Bali Shopping Style

Crafting Excellence from Clay
What began in 1976 as an experimental industry that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry producing high standard elegant pieces.


Traditionally pottery, or ceramics, on Bali was low fired; meaning fired with a wood burning stove at low temperatures and although the pottery produced was useful to the Balinese (large terracotta jars were made to store water and flat plates were used for food), there was no longevity to these items, which were fragile and cracked easily. The other disadvantage to the modern user was that the pottery was unable to be thoroughly washed, and while there was a traditional ceramic industry in Bali, most notably in the village of Kapal between Canggu and Tanah Lot, there was not the commercial viability that traditional crafts such as carving and silver jewelry could offer to the burgeoning market of westerners looking to export handicrafts.


When Brent Hesslyn entered the picture some thirty years ago, Balinese potters were creating functional designs using this ancient firing method. Brent then introduced the first high firing kilns into Bali that back then were powered by diesel (but now use LPG gas), and thus began a journey that has taken Jenggala Ceramics into the 21st Century as the finest producers of ceramics and glass on the island. What began in 1976 as an experimental industry in Sanur that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry employing over 270 people, producing high standard, high quality and elegant pieces for hotels, restaurants and private homes.


According to John Adsit, who has been with Jenggala for eleven years, the key to the success of Jenggala has been the combination of Balinese artistic flair and talent with the modern technology now available. Using internally developed glazes the production team can now make beautiful and functional pieces that are durable and exquisitely designed. A walk around the vast showroom at Jimbaran will have you re-designing your home just to showcase some of these marvelous items.

Amongst the most popular is the "Frangipani", a seriously textural range with overlapping petals of frangipani that appear to curl and furl at will. This range is accompanied by two other very Balinese motifs, the "Banana Leaf" and the "Lotus Flower". Glazed to look almost liquid, the relief surfaces of these three designs shimmer as the light shines on them, and in any setting would recall the beauty of Bali in a moment.

"Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills, the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there"

There is a seemingly unending choice of styles, and to contrast the Frangipani range a very subtle glaze covers the "Java" range of coffee services. From pots to cups, and saucers to serving bowls, the Java range has a contemporary style and muted elegance. There are also some quirky items like the Bird of Paradise red teapot, which Jenggala calls Beautiful Orange, just one of their two hundred or so glaze finishes.

It is crafted in the shape of an elephant with a cross-legged rider and just cried out for a place in my house! There’s something for everyone here, even for the kids.

Jenggala has two specific activities for children, though adults are most welcome to participate as well. These are plate painting and pot making. Each craft is easily adaptable to age and can provide you with a real treasure. The items for painting, ranging from plates to mugs and vases, come with six colors to choose from and 19 different choices of glazing. The pots can be made from scratch with six kilos of clay as your starting point. Instruction, colors and firing are included in the cost.

Upon completion of your family heirloom, the ceramic masterpiece will be ready after a few days so this is a good activity to start the holidays with, or if you wish, the final product can be shipped to your home, where you no doubt will be busily reorganizing the dining area to create the perfect space for your especially ordered Jenggala dinner service with complementing coffee set and vases.

Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there.

Their show room is a testament to the value of investing in talent and creativity. With a lovely café offering delicious food served on elegant plates, and an art gallery of mixed media works from Indonesian and international artists on display, visitors are surrounded by an uplifting and inspiring environment that just begs to be admired. Jenggala also has retail outlets at Made’s Warung in Seminyak and Toko East in Ubud.
Pottery courses are run from the showroom and can be undertaken over two weeks or up to six months for the seriously inspired. Jenggala’s main showroom is in Jimbaran, south on the Nusa Dua – Airport road, well signposted at the traffic lights and has spacious and secure parking.

Source: newbalihandycraft.blogspot.com