In the hands of the artisan, the ‘kaebauk’, an ornament with buffalo horns symbolizing the sun, strength, safety, protection, and power, traditionally worn on the head and atop sacred houses, is transformed into earrings and pendants for necklaces.
The ‘belak’, a bronze disc symbolizing the moon and worn on the chest or inside sacred houses, is also available as earrings.
Joaquim Sumali’s workshop showcases necklaces known as ‘morten’, typically orange in color, believed to bring luck, prosperity, and ward off evil spirits and negative energies.
“I want to pursue this craft. My father also worked with jewelry, molding ‘belak’ and ‘kaebauk’ since the Portuguese times. Even today, my siblings occasionally make kaebauk and belak jewelry in Dili,” Joaquim Surumali shared.
The 34-year-old jeweler emphasized that his craft remains a family tradition.
“I learned jewelry making from my father and siblings. Our work stems from our heritage, our father, and the elders who made similar jewelry,” Joaquim Surumali explained.
Joaquim Surumali crafts his jewelry from gold, silver, or bronze, catering to clients’ preferences and budgets.
The materials, according to the jeweler, are primarily sourced from Timor-Leste, though most come from Indonesia or Singapore due to limited local resources.
“As people use gold for sacred houses, availability is low. Therefore, we often source materials from abroad. Most clients provide the gold, and we charge only for labor,” he noted.
Asked about prices, the artisan explained that a pure gold ‘belak’ may cost $600, while a ‘morten’ is priced at $100.
“Many Timorese, as well as Portuguese, especially teachers, purchase these items,” he stated.
Joaquim clarified that Portuguese buyers appreciate these pieces for their unique and traditional nature in Timor-Leste.
Timorese purchase them for placement in family sacred houses, visible throughout the country’s municipalities. Gold ‘belak’ items are particularly popular.
Regarding monthly income from jewelry production, Joaquim Surumali mentioned it can reach up to $500 monthly, depending on customer volume and visits.
