Indonesia handicrafts have been widely known in the world with various forms, creative, innovative, and always evolving. Indonesia is also known as an exporter of handicrafts made with natural processes and materials. Thus, the handicraft products made are also very diverse and have certain characteristics from each region. The manufacture of handicraft products in one area is certainly different from other areas, because the natural resources are also different.
For example, Plered in West Java, has a large supply of clay so that the craft that develops is ceramics. Meanwhile in Palu, Central Sulawesi, the natural resources are abundant in producing black wood crafts. Or in Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, the natural resources produce rattan and latex handicrafts. Almost every region in Indonesia has its own advantages, depending on the most abundant natural basic materials available in their area.
Clay Crafts
First, there are lots of clay crafts in Indonesia. This craft is commonly known by people as ceramic crafts. The origin of the word ceramic is Keramos from the Greek. That is, glassware made of clay that has a combustion process. The elastic of clay is indeed very easy to be made into certain shapes. Most of the manufacturing process still relies on human hands.
Generally, the steps of clay crafts start from preparation, formation, drying, burning, and refinement. In addition to ceramics, clay can also shaped into pottery, teapots, roof tiles, and other crafts that used as decoration or home furnishings.
Natural Fiber Crafts
Crafts from natural fibers are those made from plant fibers. For example, the leaves, or stems of certain plants that have fibers such as water hyacinth. Although water hyacinth is considered a nuisance plant for some people, but for certain people it can be a source of income. In addition to water hyacinth, there are many other natural fiber materials such as banana stems, corn stalks, palm leaves, and pandanus.
The technique of making handicrafts from natural fibers is mostly made by weaving, macrame, and knitting. However, there are also those who use paste or sewing techniques. Natural fiber materials can processed to produce handicrafts such as bags, wallets, hats, table mats, and lamp holders.
Wood Crafts
Indonesia has various kinds of wood, including teak, mahogany, pine, sapodilla, jackfruit, and so on. Craft products produced from wood also com in many forms, following the manufacturing technique and texture of the wood. Natural crafts made of wood have been popular since ancient times. There are several areas known for their carvings and sculptures, such as Jepara, Jogja, Cirebon, Bali, Toraja, and others.
In addition to carving and chiseling techniques, there are also lathe, scroll, paste or connect techniques. The process of carving begins with sketching on wood, then the wood carved using a chisel and a bat. The products of wooden crafts are chairs, carving tables, statues, ashtrays, jewelry, bowls, and much more.
Bamboo Crafts
Bamboo has been a craft product with high aesthetic and economic value in Indonesia for hundreds of years. Some of the techniques in making bamboo handicrafts are weaving techniques and sticky or connecting construction techniques. The Indonesia weaving is very well known in foreign countries with various interesting motifs and shapes. Bamboo handicraft products include clotheslines, mats, wickerwork, key chains, kitchen utensils, wall clocks, and various decorations.
Leather Crafts
Leather produced from animals such as cows, goats, buffalo, crocodiles, and other animals can be used as the basic material for crafts. The process of making leather raw materials is quite simple. First, wash the skin of the cut animal, stretched, and then dried in the sun to dry.
After drying, rubbed the skin to remove hair and dirt using a slicing knife. Then washed and dried again. Then, the skin start to crafted. The drying process called as the process of tanning raw leather. Usually used for shadow puppets, fans, decorations, dance clothing accessories, and so on. However, there is also tanned leather process, to be made into handicrafts such as bags, shoes, wallets.
Metal Crafts
Materials included in the metal category are gold, silver, bronze, aluminum, iron, and brass. Many gold-producing areas are in South Kalimantan and Java. Meanwhile, silver handicrafts are found in Yogyakarta, West Sumatra, and Bali. Many natural metal materials are made as jewelry or accessories. However, it has also developed into functional objects such as knives, glasses, teapots, trays, multipurpose containers, and trophies as symbols of the championship.
Stone Crafts
Many areas in Indonesia that make color stone as craft product. Such as for complementary fashion accessories, decorating objects, or decorating interior and exterior. Color stone processing techniques as handicraft products generally have to be ground first, then assembled. For interior and exterior, usually using chisel and carving techniques.
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