BALI MUSEUM
Museum of History and Archaeology in Denpasar, featuring ancient stone carvings, masks and dance costumes, etc.
The museum was built in 1910 on the initiative of a Dutchman who wanted to stop the hemorrhaging of Balinese art to the Netherlands and the United States. The museum is made up of several pavilions in the traditional style that reproduce the architecture of palaces and temples. Inside, the displays have no explanations and are rather plain. On the other hand, you can see many masks, kriss, paintings and sculptures that trace the history and especially the Balinese style. It is certainly the best museum in Bali to discover the culture of the island, understand its traditions and history.
In the north, a pavilion contains masks and costumes of Rangda and barong. There is even a barong landung that tourists are unlikely to see during their stay, unless they are there on the right dates. In the main building, you can see some prehistoric artifacts, stone sarcophagi dating back to the 2nd century BC and bamboo or rattan cages for carrying fighting cocks. Two black-and-white photographs of the puputan show the Dutch troops landing in Sanur and the bodies of Balinese on the ground.
In the southern pavilion, built curiously in the northern style, you can see traditional fabrics such as songket, prada and various ikat but also geringsing, or double-ikat, one of the last double weft dyed weavings from Tenganan.
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