Lombok pottery pieces go international

Lombok pottery pieces go international

By H. Bur Solihin

MATARAM (Antara): A decade ago pottery from Lombok, such as large bowl-like water containers and lamp shades, were merely simple works made with traditional techniques. Today these articles have not only found their way into star-rated hotels but have also made inroads into the world market.

Large containers, plates, bowls, ashtrays, lamp shades, garden lamps, kettles and wall decorations are now exported to 25 countries, including France, Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States.

Some of them, like plates and bowls, have earned sanitation certificates from Britain. You can see them in star-rated hotels in the Senggigi and Kuta tourist resorts because foreign tourists are known to be very fond of them.

The success of introducing pottery from Lombok to prestigious hotels at home and foreign buyers is attributable to the ceaseless efforts made by many parties, particularly the New Zealand government.

Between 1988 and 1997 Wellington extended to Lombok's potters, through a project called the Lombok Pottery Center (LPC), assistance in the form of money, technology, designs and management. As a result, Lombok pottery is now marketable abroad.

The LPC project was centered in three villages, Banyumulek in Labuapi subdistrict (West Lombok), Penujak in Pujut subdistrict (Central Lombok) and Masbagik in Masbagik subdistrict (East Lombok).

In Banyumulek 1,116 potters and 2,496 assistants joined the project. In Panujak LPC brought together 1,146 potters and 1,143 assistants while in Masbagik the project helped 240 potters and 496 assistants.

When inaugurating the LPC building in Lombok recently, New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Michael F. Green said Lombok pottery had earned an international reputation. In New Zealand in particular, there was a huge interest, he added.

The New Zealand government, however, will shortly reduce its involvement in the project as the LPC can now manage itself independently.

"After successfully assisting potters in Lombok, the New Zealand government is now turning its attention to the local traditional weavers," Green said.

In Lombok, pottery-making is handed down from one generation to the next and as pottery is usually made at home, local people have been able to make pottery since early in life.

One potter, Inaq Munisah, 40, of Banyumulek, has been involved in pottery-making since the age of six.

"We are very grateful to the New Zealand government for its assistance as otherwise I would not be able to make the pottery which I can sell abroad," she said.

Before the establishment of the LPC, pottery made in Banyumulek was very simple and sold only locally at low prices, for between Rp 250 (3 U.S. cents) and Rp 1,000 apiece.

"We used to sell our pottery in Ampenan and Cakranegara markets. My husband, for example, had to go from one place to another in our village, peddling with four large bowl-like water containers hung from his yoke," Inaq said.

If three of the four containers were sold, he then had to put a stone on the other side of the yoke to balance it.

"After enjoying the assistance from the New Zealand government, we can export our pottery articles now at prices ranging from between Rp 5,000 and Rp 15,000 apiece. Besides, we do not have to travel round the village peddling our products," she added.

The annual income from the sale of pottery differs from one place to another. In Banyumelek, for example, a potter can make Rp 1.3 million, in Penujak Rp 1.2 million and in Masbagik Rp 1.5 million.

According to Munisah, half of the income will be spent on daily living expenses, including children's school fees, while the other half is usually saved.

LPC director Lenny Setiawati says that out of the thousands of potters in Lombok, only about 200 in Banyumulek, 240 in Penujak and 150 in Masbagik have benefited from the assistance extended by the New Zealand government.

No sophisticated technology has been introduced to the local potters, she said, adding that technical assistance provided to these potters was improving the techniques they were familiar with, for example in the firing and polishing stages, and also by developing old designs.

In addition to extending technical and marketing assistance, the LPC is also trying to eradicate illiteracy and develop environmental sanitation.

In 1997 the Indonesian government awarded the LPC the Upakarti citation, which was received by the New Zealand ambassador.

To better promote Lombok pottery abroad, LPC always takes part in relevant exhibitions. In 1997, for example, it joined an exhibition in Toronto, Canada.

H. Warsito, the governor of West Nusatenggara, said that Lombok handicrafts, particularly its pottery, offered a huge export potential much of which had yet to be tapped. As for Lombok pottery itself, it is unique in terms of originality and design.

However, he said, there are still some constraints on the export of the province's handicrafts, including pottery, because of inadequate sea and airport facilities.

Industrial exports from West Nusatenggara in 1997 were valued at Rp 207.5 billion, up more than Rp 165.6 billion from 1996.