Pacitan's agate, long-lasting souvenir

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.