Kasongan, The Glorious Pottery Village
Yogyakarta is indeed a tourist paradise, not only the history and natural beauty but also the existence of the Tourism Village which is the main attraction. Each Tourism Village has its own characteristics, ranging from plantation products, handicrafts, food to the traditions of the village.
One of the Tourism Village which is famous for its craft is Kasongan. The village which is famous for its pottery craft is formerly the residence of the Gundi (the name for clay craftsmen). Not only in Indonesia, Pottery products made by Kasongan craftsmen have been traveling to Asia, Europe and America.
Currently Kasongan may be more famous than the name of his Village, namely Bangunjiwo. Driven by over 300 artisans, absorbing a thousand more manpower to make this craft center able to penetrate the international pottery market. Showroom lined neatly on either side of the road, combined with workshops of craftsmen, where we can directly make ceramics, Kasongan and art fairs are regularly held every year, making Kasongan a memorable craft tour for anyone who visit.
Kasongan is in its history the land of rice fields belonging to villagers in the south of Yogyakarta. At the time of the Dutch Colonization in Indonesia, in the area owned by one of the resident of a resident found a dead horse. The horse is thought to belong to Dutch officials. Because then the Dutch colonial period, the people who own the land is afraid and immediately release the land rights so as not to be prosecuted by the Dutch. Similar fears also occur in other residents who have rice fields in the vicinity who eventually also release the rights of the land.
The amount of free land, making other villagers immediately recognize the land. Residents who relinquish the rights of the land then turned the profession into a ceramic craftsman who initially just to throw the ground that is not broken when put together. Actually the land is only used for children's toys and kitchen furniture only. However, due to the diligence and tradition of hereditary, Kasongan eventually became a fairly famous Tourism Village.
As quoted from wikipedia, since 1971-1972, Kasongan Tourism Village progressed quite rapidly. Sapto Hudoyo (a great artist of Yogyakarta) helped to develop Kasongan Tourism Village by fostering the community of most artisans to provide various artistic and commercial touches to the design of pottery so that the resulting pottery does not create a boring and monotonous impression, but can provide artistic value and value high economy. Kasongan ceramics were commercialized on a large scale by Sahid Keramik circa 1980s.
According to Dewi, one of the Pottery business owners in Kasongan "The average buyers come from out of town with a wholesale system,". The resulting craft also varied including Plate, Jug, Guci, Tempayan, Anglo, Kuali, Piggy Bank, Pot, Souvenir and sculptures with various motifs. Do not hesitate Goddess also provide tips for buyers from out of town to avoid expensive postage, "For outside buyers should rent their own transport vehicles such as trucks if purchases in large quantities," he concluded. For the price itself is set from the cheapest Rp 25,000 to millions of rupiah but still negotiable. So it's good as buyers have to be smart-bargain bidding.
Location Kasongan Tourism Village
Located in the Kajen hamlet, Bangunjiwo village, Kasihan district, Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region or can be reached from the city to Bantul with a distance of about 8KM and takes about 20 minutes. Not difficult to find the location because right at the main road junction, visitors will be greeted by a large red brick gate with Kasongan writing.