Lombok pottery pieces go international<\/p>\n
By H. Bur Solihin<\/p>\n
MATARAM (Antara): A decade ago pottery from Lombok, such as
\nlarge bowl-like water containers and lamp shades, were merely
\nsimple works made with traditional techniques. Today these
\narticles have not only found their way into star-rated hotels but
\nhave also made inroads into the world market.<\/p>\n
Large containers, plates, bowls, ashtrays, lamp shades, garden
\nlamps, kettles and wall decorations are now exported to 25
\ncountries, including France, Great Britain, Germany, Holland,
\nHong Kong, Japan and the United States.<\/p>\n
Some of them, like plates and bowls, have earned sanitation
\ncertificates from Britain. You can see them in star-rated hotels
\nin the Senggigi and Kuta tourist resorts because foreign tourists
\nare known to be very fond of them.<\/p>\n
The success of introducing pottery from Lombok to prestigious
\nhotels at home and foreign buyers is attributable to the
\nceaseless efforts made by many parties, particularly the New
\nZealand government.<\/p>\n
Between 1988 and 1997 Wellington extended to Lombok's potters,
\nthrough a project called the Lombok Pottery Center (LPC),
\nassistance in the form of money, technology, designs and
\nmanagement. As a result, Lombok pottery is now marketable abroad.<\/p>\n
The LPC project was centered in three villages, Banyumulek in
\nLabuapi subdistrict (West Lombok), Penujak in Pujut subdistrict
\n(Central Lombok) and Masbagik in Masbagik subdistrict (East
\nLombok).<\/p>\n
In Banyumulek 1,116 potters and 2,496 assistants joined the
\nproject. In Panujak LPC brought together 1,146 potters and 1,143
\nassistants while in Masbagik the project helped 240 potters and
\n496 assistants.<\/p>\n
When inaugurating the LPC building in Lombok recently, New
\nZealand Ambassador to Indonesia Michael F. Green said Lombok
\npottery had earned an international reputation. In New Zealand in
\nparticular, there was a huge interest, he added.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand government, however, will shortly reduce its
\ninvolvement in the project as the LPC can now manage itself
\nindependently.<\/p>\n
\"After successfully assisting potters in Lombok, the New
\nZealand government is now turning its attention to the local
\ntraditional weavers,\" Green said.<\/p>\n
In Lombok, pottery-making is handed down from one generation
\nto the next and as pottery is usually made at home, local people
\nhave been able to make pottery since early in life.<\/p>\n
One potter, Inaq Munisah, 40, of Banyumulek, has been involved
\nin pottery-making since the age of six.<\/p>\n
\"We are very grateful to the New Zealand government for its
\nassistance as otherwise I would not be able to make the pottery
\nwhich I can sell abroad,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Before the establishment of the LPC, pottery made in
\nBanyumulek was very simple and sold only locally at low prices,
\nfor between Rp 250 (3 U.S. cents) and Rp 1,000 apiece.<\/p>\n
\"We used to sell our pottery in Ampenan and Cakranegara
\nmarkets. My husband, for example, had to go from one place to
\nanother in our village, peddling with four large bowl-like water
\ncontainers hung from his yoke,\" Inaq said.<\/p>\n
If three of the four containers were sold, he then had to put
\na stone on the other side of the yoke to balance it.<\/p>\n
\"After enjoying the assistance from the New Zealand
\ngovernment, we can export our pottery articles now at prices
\nranging from between Rp 5,000 and Rp 15,000 apiece. Besides, we
\ndo not have to travel round the village peddling our products,\"
\nshe added.<\/p>\n
The annual income from the sale of pottery differs from one
\nplace to another. In Banyumelek, for example, a potter can make
\nRp 1.3 million, in Penujak Rp 1.2 million and in Masbagik Rp 1.5
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
According to Munisah, half of the income will be spent on
\ndaily living expenses, including children's school fees, while
\nthe other half is usually saved.<\/p>\n
LPC director Lenny Setiawati says that out of the thousands of
\npotters in Lombok, only about 200 in Banyumulek, 240 in Penujak
\nand 150 in Masbagik have benefited from the assistance extended
\nby the New Zealand government.<\/p>\n
No sophisticated technology has been introduced to the local
\npotters, she said, adding that technical assistance provided to
\nthese potters was improving the techniques they were familiar
\nwith, for example in the firing and polishing stages, and also by
\ndeveloping old designs.<\/p>\n
In addition to extending technical and marketing assistance,
\nthe LPC is also trying to eradicate illiteracy and develop
\nenvironmental sanitation.<\/p>\n
In 1997 the Indonesian government awarded the LPC the Upakarti
\ncitation, which was received by the New Zealand ambassador.<\/p>\n
To better promote Lombok pottery abroad, LPC always takes part
\nin relevant exhibitions. In 1997, for example, it joined an
\nexhibition in Toronto, Canada.<\/p>\n
H. Warsito, the governor of West Nusatenggara, said that
\nLombok handicrafts, particularly its pottery, offered a huge
\nexport potential much of which had yet to be tapped. As for
\nLombok pottery itself, it is unique in terms of originality and
\ndesign.<\/p>\n
However, he said, there are still some constraints on the
\nexport of the province's handicrafts, including pottery, because
\nof inadequate sea and airport facilities.<\/p>\n
Industrial exports from West Nusatenggara in 1997 were valued
\nat Rp 207.5 billion, up more than Rp 165.6 billion from 1996.<\/p>",
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