Thetraveljunkie.org – When we stay at The Kamasari, Yogyakarta. Roughly 15km or 20 minutes from The Kamasari is the wonderful Kerajinan Keramik (Ceramics Village) of Bayat, Klaten. Here, travel junkies can tour the kiln area and make their own simple ceramic pieces.
They can also observe how the whole process works, starting from the moment a raw slug of clay is squeezed through a machine and piled up by hand.
Later, craftsmen push the pots into shape using potters’ wheels and then fire them in the kilns before adding glaze, paint and fancy detailing. It’s worth watching as the final touches are put on to the vases.
When stopping off at a shop or small factory, be sure to chat with the pottery sellers. Most are eager to talk about the crafting process and are quite proud of their reputation as one of the go-to spots for pottery in Java.
Nearly all the pottery in Bayat is made using traditional methods, which means it can take up to a month to complete just one piece, depending on design and complexity.
All the clay is locally sourced, but finished pieces are exported both to Yogyakarta, Bali, Jakarta and as far as Australia, North America, and Europe.
Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.
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Happy Sustainable Travels!
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