Pacitan's agate, long-lasting souvenir

By R. Agus Bakti

PACITAN, Central Java (JP): Pacitan is known as an arid, hilly regency. Although the land is unproductive, many residents prosper thanks to their craftsmanship of agate.

Agate is available at regular and souvenir stores across the main town and recreation centers. Agate sellers make a lot of money during holidays and on the weekends when holidaymakers abound.

"The price of agate varies from several thousand rupiah to several hundred thousand rupiah, depending on the grade," says Sutini, 47, who sells agate products at Teleng Ria beach. All the agate available in the local market is locally crafted although raw materials for high-grade agate products may be obtained elsewhere, she says.

You can buy the agate with or without a setting.

If you have time, visit craftsmen at work in Donorojo subdistrict. There are about 400 artists in the villages of Gendaran, Tangklok and Sukodono.

The precious agate is made into rings, medallions, earrings, buttons, key holders and various souvenirs.

The pieces are made from slabs of agate. The agate pieces are polished and come in different colors: green, red, violet.

Waridi, a craftsman, says the raw material is difficult to find. "The best time to collect the raw material is during the wet season."

Why the wet season? The heavy rain exposes the agate from the soil. In the dry season, this natural process does not happen.

For small-scale craftsmen like Waridi, the dry season is a difficult time because the agate is more difficult to find.

Each day, an agate artist can make up to six pieces of low- grade agate and two high-grade ones.

The low-grade stone is priced at just Rp 5,000 for each package of 20 pieces.

Local craftsmen claim that the quality of locally crafted agate is superior to that in other regions.

"Everybody here wants Pacitan to be known as a main producer of agate," Waridi says.

Pacitan agate is distinctive in the unusual images within each piece. High-grade pieces are much more sought after, although they cost a lot more than the lower grade pieces.

Local craftsmen may go to other regencies like Wonogiri, Trenggalek and Ponorogo for high-grade agate.

To make agate jewelry and souvenirs steel is brought in from Jepara, Central Java, and silver, for high-grade stones, are brought in from Kotagede, Yogyakarta.

The Pacitan administration is also serious about developing its agate industry. To develop the industry, it has founded Ubibab, which promotes mechanical production methods.

The products made using modern technology are marketed not only in Pacitan, but also in other cities, like Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surakarta and Surabaya.