Ex-truck driver finds success with ceramic handicrafts

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.