Indonesian Arts and Crafts

Indonesia has one of the largest furniture export industries in the world. Wooden furniture dominates the furniture sector, accounting for two-thirds of the total furniture exports. The furniture industry is mainly concentrated in Java (notably Jepara, Semarang, Solo and Surabaya), where furniture accounts for about 40% of Java’s total exports.

Jepara is particularly known for its crafted wooden furniture. Small firms market their products through a network of furniture shops that sells locally. Exports are carried out through sub-contracting arrangements and small enterprises play an active role in export.

The Indonesian furniture industry relies heavily on timber as its raw material with an annual requirement of 4.5 million m3. Although Indonesia is the world’s second largest timber producer, the industry faces shortages of raw materials. The main timber species for wood carving are teak, mahogany and sonokeling (Dalbergia latifolia). Almost half of the total national rattan production is based in Cirebon.

Indonesia faces several challenges in expanding its furniture exports.

* Despite its vast forest resources, illegal timber logging and trade have affected the supply of timber to the furniture sector.
* China, the world’s largest producer and exporter of furniture, is gaining market share in key export markets.
* Thirdly, increasing power and fuel costs have also raised operating costs, eroding Indonesia’s competitiveness. Indonesia has sustained its competitiveness by making progress in both quality and design enhancement.

The ancient carving industry in Jepara is famous locally and worldwide. Its reputation has attracted many related economic activities linked to wood production and processing, especially furniture making. Today, Jepara is a typical example of what is called an ‘industrial district’1 in which growth in one sector (furniture manufacturing) has attracted thousands of small to medium-sized industries to the Kabupaten (administrative district)2. These in turn have created an opportunity for further subsidiary activities and industries. The many showrooms in Jepara are a microcosm of the range of furniture, designs, know-how, traders, and transport options on offer throughout Java.

This concentration of industrial activity has stimulated a substantial economic boom in Jepara and surrounding areas and attracted local political support. For example, the need for container trucks to export furniture led the Bupati to have some major roads in the district reclassified as ‘provincial class’ roads. This allowed container trucks to reach most parts of the district, stimulating economic growth by attracting more people and activities, generating new trade and industry, and elevating economic activity around Jepara to a new level. The minimum wage of workers is reputed to be significantly higher in Jepara than in the rest of the province.

The dynamic nature of the Jepara industrial complex also affects the Indonesian wood products chain, attracting timber produced from forests located throughout Central Java and beyond, including the outer islands. Thousands of trucks and pickups bring logs into the district from distant places, including state and community forest plantations. In addition to serving the huge domestic market in Indonesia, Jepara is well connected to foreign markets in the USA, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and elsewhere, and thereby acts as a bridge between local people, forests and these global markets.

Jepara rattan furniture has become extremely popular in the world since the trader exports this handicraft to the other country. Not only is it stylish it is also remarkably well priced. Jepara rattan furniture also easy to care for and really needs quite minimal maintenance.

Generally rattan furniture has many benefits. For starters, they look beautiful in any setting naturally, and their looks can be further enhanced with skillful weaving techniques. Rattan furniture can be left to in its natural corn silk color, or painted with a wide variety of colors to suit any home. As cane can be weaved into any shape and form, which means you can find all types of furniture you want.

In fact, some home owners decorate their homes with nothing but rattan furniture. This achieves a consistent look and gives a better overall feel throughout the whole house. Also, rattan furniture tends to alter the general mood of the house to one that is leisurely and relaxed. As the home is a sanctuary, this makes rattan furniture the perfect candidate for decorating a home.