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There is long history of Indonesians using Terracotta and ceramics for both household use and statuary dating back to the Majapahit period more than 800 years ago. Archaeological excavations continue to unearth basic household items made from these materials that are many centuries old.
The soil that is the basis for terracotta is usually taken from height well above sea level often from the slopes of mountains. Once dried, the soil is beaten until it becomes smooth and then soaked in water. This wet clay-like material is mixed with fine , dry earth and molted into various shapes for many uses.
The availability of the basic clay substance is widespread throughout Indonesia, particularly in parts of java and Lombok and to a lesser extent, Bali. In Bali it is most often used as ornamentation on the roofs of temples and houses, as well as decorative wall panels or simple oil lamps.
In java and Lombok , however, thousands of people are employed in the making of terracotta items ranging from small candleholders to large garden pots. In lombok there are approximately 3,000 craftpeople producing terracotta items and probably as many part-time workers.
In java, the two main production areas are Pleret and Kasongan just outside Yogyakarta. In Pleret the range of design is perhaps more limited when compared to other production areas but the quality is very high. The main street of Kasongan, which runs for several kilometers is full of shops selling items of innovative styles and finishes of varying qualities and prices. Compared to Lombok , the finished design of Kasongan terracotta tends to depend more on the additional of other natural materials to the finished shape : vases covered with rattan , pots wrapped with water hyacinth and other items that have been innovatively painted.
One example of Lomboks creative finishes is application of the juice of the tamarind fruit. The juice is sprayed on the dried terracotta, producing a dappled look that varies from the appearance of a wood finish to the skin of an exotic jungle animal. Other original finishes include those mixed with different colored clays to produce a very light finish and terracotta that is tinted or striped. One attractive and popular terracotta finish is a solid black effect which can have either a sheen or be left matte. Stringently tested, it has been proven to be completely safe for us a tableware. This particular finish is achieved by firing normal terracotta and while still hot covering it with rice husks, leaves and other vegetation. This burns into the surface turning it ebony black. A subtle sheen is achieved by rubbing coconut oil into the finished product.
Article from Made In Indonesia book edition 2005
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