After the harvest and on through the dry season in several villages on Rote and Timor many women can be found making earthenware cooking pots. These pots are used to cook in, for boiling water, and boiling sugar from the lontar palm.  They are very easy to break but can last up to a year if looked after.

First clay is collected, and sand gathered from the beach. The ladies and children walk up to several kilometres to collect the sand and clay, and carry it back themselves. According to tradition they are not allowed to make one sigh or even breathe heavily while doing all this hard work.

The clay is dried, pounded and sifted, and then combined with the sand and water.  The clay lumps are formed into a V shape pot and placed outside in the sun to dry for about half an hour. The pot is then brought inside and made into a round bowl shape. The bowls are left inside to dry for a day or two.

In the evening the bowls are stacked on top of each other on cow or buffalo pats. Bamboo and wood are then stacked around the bowls and the fire is lit from the top. After an hour or two the pots are done.

The pots are sold at market or traded for other goods like corn, betelnut or rice. This lady from Oenale Village, Rote, will sell her small pots for 1500 Rupiah each.

Activities

1. Use clay and sand to form a V-shaped pot. Dry it for half hour outside. Bring it back inside, and shape it into a bowl. Leave it to dry for 2 days. Make a fire outside (using cow pats?, and sticks), and pile all the bowls on top of each other and fire them. 2. Discuss with your art teacher how to decorate these pots using traditional methods from various cultures. 3. On the net look for sites that promote and sell Indonesian pottery. Search for Lombok’s famous Sasak pottery. What will you pay for a large traditional plate?