In the Dutch colonial time, in one of the areas at the southern
part of Yogyakarta there was a shocking and even threatening occurrence with
the finding of a dead horse owned by a Dutch detective on a rice field of a
villager. Being afraid of punishment, the villager gave up his land ownership
and did not acknowledge his land anymore. This was followed by other villagers.
This given up land was then possessed by people of other village. Having no
more fields to cultivate, the local people ended up with becoming ceramics
craftsmen to make toys and kitchen sets until now.
This was revealed in an interview by Prof. Gustami at all with
local elders in 1980s.
It is that area that we know it as Kasongan until present time;
a village in Kajen hamlet that is situated in low mountains with limestone
soil. It takes 15-20 minutes drive from the city center. Kasongan village is the
dwelling place of kundis, which means earthenware jugs and later refers to
people who make any earthenware jug-like as kitchen tools and ornaments.
"Beginning from our ancestor's habit to knead clay that
turns out not to break when it is united, and begin to make some functions for
kid toys and kitchen tools. The habit was then descended to current
generation," said Giman, one of the workers in Loro Blonyo workshop.
Visiting Kasongan village, the tourists will be welcomed warmly
by local inhabitants. They may have a look the showroom crowded with ceramic
handicrafts. If they are interested in seeing the ceramics making, tourists can
visit some ceramic galleries that produce the special handicrafts at site. The
processes are material kneading, shaping, drying that takes 2-4 days and
burning before finally being finished using wall paint or roof-tile paint.
Working collectively, a gallery is usually a family business run
from generation to the next generation. Even though ceramics making is now
involving neighbors of surrounding dwelling place of the gallery owner, the
family is still responsible for material selection and production monitoring.
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