Villagers share art of kris sheath making
Villagers share art of kris sheath making
By R. Agus Bakti
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The kris -- the traditional Malay and
Indonesian dagger -- is no longer in use. Some regard it is as a
heirloom, while for others it is only a decoration or a souvenir.
A kris is not complete without a sheath. And here in
Banyusumurup village, located south of the Imogiri Royal Cemetery
in the Bantul regency, there is a handicraft center for warangka
or kris sheaths made from wood.
"Many foreign and domestic tourists, after attending a
convention in the city or visiting the royal cemetery, extend
their visit to include Banyusumurup," said Nyoman Yudiriani from
the local tourist information office.
She said tourists were invited to visit the village to see the
process of making kris sheaths and to watch up close the daily
life of the craftsmen.
"In general they know about this village from friends who have
been here. They also get information from the media," she said.
Craftsman Mugi Slamet said the art of making kris sheaths had
been handed down for generations. "Making a sheath requires a
touch of art, feeling and patience," he said.
There are currently no fewer than 40 kris sheath makers in the
village. Originally the sheaths were made to fill the orders of
kris owners like the abdi dalem (court servants) from the
Yogyakarta court. Subsequently, the sheaths have been sold as
souvenirs to tourists.
Pak Slamet says he learnt the craft from his father,
Martoikromo. Some of his ancestors were servants at the court.
A kris sheath is made of wood. Other materials can be used,
but the usual choice is a piece of wood with a fine texture and a
fragrant smell, like the mahoni (swietenia macrophylla), cendana
(santalum album linn) and sanakeling (Java polisander - Dalbergia
latifolia).
To obtain the wood Slamet frequently travels to the Banyuwangi
region in East Java where the trees grow in abundance.
He produces 400 sheaths, worth at least Rp 10 million, every
month, and employs five workers each with different skills. To
make the sheaths more practical he has reduced their size. The
products are marketed in Bali, Jakarta, Surakarta and Yogyakarta.
What about the price? They cost on average Rp 20,000. "But a
kris sheath made to order is a finer product and may cost several
hundred thousand rupiah," he said, adding that the business
provided his family with an adequate income.
He also said that the kris making business showed an upward
trend during Suro (a month in the Javanese calendar), the
village's harvest month. The month, which this year began on
April 6, is considered the right time to clean a kris and its
sheath. It is also the time a cultural ceremony is held at the
royal cemetery.
"After the ceremony visitors usually come to my place. This
happens every year. They can consult me on the maintenance of
their kris sheaths," he said.
Mugi Slamet, a father of five from his marriage to Maridilah,
said that over tens of years of making kris sheaths he had been
trusted by people from the Yogyakarta and Surakarta palaces.
Among his clients is also a famous wayang puppeteer.
The existence of the sheath business in his village gives
cause for optimism, especially since the younger generation show
an interest in assisting it after school. They smoothen, polish
and varnish the wood. They contribute to the lively atmosphere of
kris sheath production in the village.
Banyusumurup is located 20 kilometers from the center of
Yogyakarta and can be easily reached by public transportation
from the city bus terminal.