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.