The art of plaiting has developed into an important cottage industry in Indonesia. The materials used include bamboo, rattan, pandan and palm leaves and even the stems of sago palm leaves. however, rattan and bamboo are the favuorites, because they are sturdy, yet easy to work with.
for plaiting, young bamboo-stalks are cut and soaked in water. After drying, they are sliced into thin slats which are then plaited into bamboo carpets, hats, fine baskets and fans. then, older, bigger stalks are made into bamboo walls, flooring and stronger types of baskets.
Tasikmalaya, in West Java, is a centre of bamboo craft. Minangkabau and Tapanuli in Sumatera, and Kalimantan, produce colourful bamboowork.
As for rattan, only its outer, shiny skin is used for this craft, as this skin is more flexible and easier to work with.
Another higly developed craft is silverwork. The centres of this craft are located in Java, Bali, Sumatera and Sulawesi. The motifs bear old Hindu-Javanese characteristics, similar to those motifs that decorate the walls of temples in Java and Bali.
In Sumatera and Sulawesi, the artist draw their motifs from nature such as flowers, bird and other animals or form various types of vessels and houses. The artist shape their motifs by beating, pressing, and cutting the silver.
Yogyakarta's craftsmen use this technique; a silver foil is covered with hard wax. the design is then beaten into the silver foil, beginning from the inner side. After that the artist removes the wax to cover the outer side, and continues his beating until the work finished.
for plaiting, young bamboo-stalks are cut and soaked in water. After drying, they are sliced into thin slats which are then plaited into bamboo carpets, hats, fine baskets and fans. then, older, bigger stalks are made into bamboo walls, flooring and stronger types of baskets.
Tasikmalaya, in West Java, is a centre of bamboo craft. Minangkabau and Tapanuli in Sumatera, and Kalimantan, produce colourful bamboowork.
As for rattan, only its outer, shiny skin is used for this craft, as this skin is more flexible and easier to work with.
Another higly developed craft is silverwork. The centres of this craft are located in Java, Bali, Sumatera and Sulawesi. The motifs bear old Hindu-Javanese characteristics, similar to those motifs that decorate the walls of temples in Java and Bali.
In Sumatera and Sulawesi, the artist draw their motifs from nature such as flowers, bird and other animals or form various types of vessels and houses. The artist shape their motifs by beating, pressing, and cutting the silver.
Yogyakarta's craftsmen use this technique; a silver foil is covered with hard wax. the design is then beaten into the silver foil, beginning from the inner side. After that the artist removes the wax to cover the outer side, and continues his beating until the work finished.
