Ex-truck driver finds success with ceramic handicrafts

By P.J. Leo

JAKARTA (JP): His experiments in crafting dolphins and ashtrays from fiberglass inspired Maskuri, a 43-year-old native of Tegal, Central Java, to start his own handicraft business in the slum of Cipinang Besar Selatan, East Jakarta.

In setting up the business in 1990, Maskuri had to quit his job as a truck driver transporting goods to various cities and a bus driver for Mayasari Bhakti.

For the first two years, he employed two workers and made only fiberglass dolphins and ashtrays. In the third year, he started making a wider variety of handicrafts from gypsum plaster.

"I can produce more products with gypsum plaster than fiberglass, because more people like it," Maskuri said.

Each day, he requires about 10 33-kilogram bags of gypsum plaster to produce some 600 small and medium-sized handicrafts.

Making ceramic handicrafts from gypsum plaster is a simple process; the material dries rapidly when mixed with water and does not need firing, which is normally required in the crafting of clay ceramics.

In the first phase, workers in the molding department quickly and efficiently mix gypsum plaster with water, then pour the liquid into a silicone rubber mold. After a few minutes, the silicone rubber is detached and a ceramic handicraft has been shaped, with the lower part of the item still unfilled.

From the molding department, the handicraft is taken to the department which makes covers for the open lower part. During this process, gypsum plaster is poured on an even and clean surface and then the handicraft is placed on top of the liquid to dry.

After a few minutes, the handicraft is again passed to another department for cleaning and refining. This phase requires more time since any cracks must first be repaired.

Afterward, the newly cleaned and smoothed handicrafts are submerged in white paint before being dried in the sun. Hot weather improves the quality of the handicrafts.

The last phase, the painting of the product, is done by two workers, who are closely supervised by Maskuri himself. An average 10 liters of paint is used each day.

Every day scores of sidewalk vendors come to Maskuri's house to buy the handicrafts, which they purchase for between Rp 5,000 and Rp 8,500 each. Maskuri does not sell his goods to large shops or malls.

"I continue to pray and be grateful to God. This business helps me support my family and sent my five children to college. Now only my youngest child has not yet finished education, and my first son has followed in my footsteps in running my handicraft business in Tegal," said Maskuri, who now employs 20 full-time workers but has no immediate plan to expand his business.