925 Sterling Silver Harmony Ball Pendants
In addition to our Dazzlers range of hand made Genuine Balinese 925 Sterling Silver Harmony
Ball pendants being available at www.HarmonyBall.net.au they are now also available in our Etsy shop at
www.etsy.com/shop/HarmonyBalls
The following are
links to the various sections in our Etsy Harmony Ball shop
Harmony Necklace
Harmony Ball Necklace
Dream Harmony Balls
Traditional Balinese Harmony
Balls
Heart shape Harmony Balls
Tree of Life Harmony Balls
Harmony Ball Earrings
Long Silver
Chains
Harmony Ball Necklaces and Local Traditions ©
It is known that a harmony ball, also known
by other names throughout the ages like druid balls, chime balls, bola necklace, harmony ball necklace, harmony necklace, pregnancy necklace and others, were worn for more than just
adornment. Harmony ball necklaces were worn by different cultures in different regions for different reasons.
Harmony ball pendants were also worn differently, sometimes as a necklace around the neck on a cord or a
chain, sometimes attached to clothing again using a leather or twine cord or metal chain. Harmony balls were
also made of different materials including metals and certain carved hardwoods and stone.
As much as harmony ball pendants varied greatly in design, shape, size and materials there was one
commonality - these harmony ball pendants incorporated cultural and family traditions in their designs. The
artisans of the time, local artisans from a village or community of villages or region will have used a
particular design style pertaining to that region, something handed down from master artisan to apprentice
through the generations. So a wearer of a harmony ball pendant could be recognized by others as being from a
particular region or village by the design of the harmony ball.
In addition to the locality aspect of the harmony ball
design the local artisan would also incorporate a family emblem component in the design for the wearer
representing his or her clan. Often if the harmony ball was used by a warrior, as was the case with celtic
warriors in the wearing of the druid ball, a form of harmony ball. In this instance the artisan would
incorporate a family or clan signature emblem into the intricate design of the harmony ball. The celtic
warriors wore the druid or harmony balls for their calming effect before a battle. In the aftermath of a bloody
battle the survivors would collect the harmony (druid) ball pendants off the dead to take home to their
families.
Silver, or a silver alloy similar to sterling silver was the choice of metal used by the artisans making
harmony balls, in regions where the precious metal and metalsmithing skills were available. In other cases the
artisan would use a local hardwood or soft stone to carve out the harmony ball shape and indeed the small bell.
Much of the skill in making the harmony ball without the aid of todays technology was in making it hollow,
making a small bell and inserting it inside the harmony
ball without leaving an opening that would allow the small bell to fall out.
Pregnacy harmony ball pendants were worn by a number of
cultures. It is said that the soft chiming sound of the harmony ball pendant would soothe and calm the
unborn baby in the womb, and after birth it would soothe the newborn baby. Most women wore the harmony ball
as a necklace on a long chain that would position the harmony ball over their abdomen, as close to the womb
as possible. Some though wore the harmony ball on a shorter necklace, usually cord or chain, so that the
pendant did not get in the way as they tended the crops or did their weaving.
Pregnancy harmony necklace pendants were often made by women
elders who included the tradition of the womans family in their design, not unlike caretakers of the
traditional values. Most women would hand down their harmony ball to their female child whe she herself
became pregnant although many times the harmony ball construction would render it very fragile and they
would often break, keeping the local harmony ball maker very busy.
Alternative names for a Harmony Ball include Angel Caller ... Bola ... Chime
Ball Necklace ... Bola Necklace ... Pregnancy Necklace ... Pregnancy Gift