Lombok Pottery

Lombok pottery has been made for centuries and is still made today by  Indonesian craftsmen who use the earth to create products that are at once functional and beautiful.  Lombok is a small tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago and is well known for the pottery skills of its indigenous people. The ancient craft tradition of making earthenware ceramics has been passed from generation to generation in a few villages in Lombok.

Traditionally, each family in villages in Lombok had its own wheel. Pottery was used by villagers to store rice, water, salt and spices. Each village had its own distinct styles and methods for making Lombok pottery. Much of this remains unchanged, even as more and more visitors flock to the island. In those villages known for high-quality Lombok pottery and hand-weavings, women still create these objects for day-to-day use in their homes.

In the village of Banyumulek, for example, potters produce a large and diverse array of earthenware, which is traditionally used for such things as preparation and serving of food as well as ceremonies integral to village life. Banyumulek pots are often embellished with rattan and old coins. In the village of Penujak, potters use simple kilns to fire their pottery. They carve exotic designs into the surface and mark their pottery with lizard or gecko decorations. Lombok pottery made in this area is often thicker than others, giving it a stronger, heavier look. This is due to the preparation process: the clay is pounded before it is mixed with sand and water, not soaked in the water as in other villages.

Making the pots requires painstaking skill and time. The clay comes from hills nearby, delivered to the potter's home by horse-drawn cart. The clay has to be carefully inspected for stones or other impurities before it can be used. The initial part of the process can take up to four days. The potters cut the clay into small cubes and lay it out in the sun to dry. Once the cubes of clay have dried, they are pounded into a clay flour, and stored to be used as a dough. In areas where they do not use a potter's wheel, the potter moves around the object, adding layer upon layer to the original piece of dough. Once the clay-dough has been pressed into the desired shape, it is ready to be decorated. Different villages often add a signature flourish. In Penujak, it is a lizard. In Masbagik, which is a village near the sea, potters will add a star fish.

After this step, the pots once again dry in the shade, after which they will be varnished. Coconut oil and a special type of clay from a different village are used as varnish. Different clays produce different colors. The process of making Lombok pottery is an ancient craft practiced by generations of families and villagers. But there is no exact mold to follow, and each handmade piece is Unique, as is the person who lovingly gives it shape, substance and color.