Suar/teak wood carved bowl or mask

Mas is one of Asia's great carving villages — gallery-quality hardwood work at workshop prices, a third or less of Western import retail

Price: 450000 IDR (Mid-size (25-30cm) suar wood bowl or hand-carved topeng mask from a Mas family studio; large sculpture runs into millions)

Where to buy: Carving studios along the Mas village road south of Ubud; Njana Tilem gallery for museum-grade pieces

Price checked 2026-07-03

• Ask whether the wood is kiln-dried/treated — required to pass US and Indian plant-quarantine, and it prevents cracking in dry climates
• Suar (rain tree) is plantation-grown and sustainable; be wary of 'ebony' claims at tourist prices
• Machine-roughed copies flood markets — studio pieces show tool marks and asymmetry; watch carvers work before buying
• Declare wood items at US/Indian customs; bark-free and pest-free is mandatory