A Crafts-based Contemporary Tableware Design Derived from Artisanal Pottery Practice of Penujak Village, Lombok

Abstract

Craftspeople from various regions of Indonesia have developed specialised earthenware pots and vessels for preparing, cooking, and storing foodstuff. These clay pots and pans’ design is made by adhering to their communal needs, aligned with the local clay’s characteristics. Lombok, an island in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province known for its pottery, is represented by the three major pottery producing areas of Banyumulek, Masbagik Timur, and Penujak. Primarily, earthenware is chosen for its vast availability and its qualities of porosity allowing for fast firing, cooking over hot woodfire or for cooling and storing. However, distinctive Lombok earthenware pots and vessels have evolved, impacted by local necessities and its clay’s characteristics. Special pre-firing and post-firing techniques have been developed to reduce porosity, smoothen surfaces and produce particular colours. Although these techniques were developed to adjust to the limitations of available resources, they have managed to produce distinctive pottery traits emblematic of the Lombok Potteries. 

The purpose of this study is to explore the unique qualities of local Lombok earthenware and its potential applications towards creating contemporary tableware designs. Penujak village was chosen as a producing partner for its finer clay and its ability to produce smaller designs. The design process includes these three stages : research on local techniques, setting design parameters, continued with design exploration and experimentation. It is crucial to understand the unique making process of Lombok pottery to utilise its potential in forming the foundations of the contemporary design outputs. Six designs have been produced in this research, deploying distinctive Lombok pottery traits to serve contemporary needs.