Kotagede Silver Crafts: Yogyakarta Competitive Jewelry
While crafts are very popular, they are among the subsectors of the creative economy that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Quoting from the Outlook on Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia 2020/2021, although during the pandemic the growth of the craft sub-sector experienced a decline in income of around -3.31%. However, the handicraft subsector remained resilient to the impact of the pandemic and was able to survive slowly.
The crafts sub-sector contributed RP. 166.13 trillion to the National GDP (Gross Domestic Income) in 2020, and became the creative economy sub-sector with the second largest income, amounting to US$ 4.95 in the same year.
In Indonesia, handicraft is a sub-sector that is very close to the Indonesian tourism sector. Different types of crafts are made with their own characteristics, ranging from wood, metal, leather, glass, ceramics, textiles, to silver.
Kotagede, Silver Craft Center in Yogyakarta
Not only is it rich in tourist destinations and various culinary delicacies, Yogyakarta also produces various types of artisanal products that are no less popular. One of the original handicrafts of Yogyakarta which is popular and is still the target of many tourists is the typical silver craftsmanship of Kotagede.
Situated in the heart of the city of Yogyakarta, the Kotagede silverware has existed since Dutch times. At the beginning, the silver craftsmanship was only dedicated to the orders of the Palace. Over time, however, the wife of the Dutch governor at the time, Mary Agnes, developed a silver industry in Kotagede.
Often called the "Jewels of Jogja", Kotagede is still a popular center for silver handicrafts in Indonesia, and is always crowded with domestic and foreign tourists. The list of different types of silver handicraft shops is proof that many residents of Kotagede depend on this handicraft subsector for their livelihood.
Illustration of Kotagede Silver Crafts. (Photo: shutterstock/indonesiapix).
The Attraction of Kotagede Silver Crafts
Maybe at this moment, Parekraf's friends are still wondering, what are the advantages and attractiveness of Kotagede craftsmanship compared to other craft arts?
The craftsmen of Kotagede are known for being diligent in the art of forging, sculpting and shaping silver in different forms. Their expertise in making silver carvings has been passed down from generation to generation.
All the silver craftsmen in Kotagede also create hundreds of types of unique and very distinctive handicrafts, ranging from rings, brooches, miniature bikes, miniature cars, and various jewelry to other accessories.
All the precious metal items made by the artisans of Kotagede are not only unique and beautiful, but also become works of art of great value. The price of the handcrafted silver offered varies, ranging from tens of thousands to tens of millions of Rupiah, depending on the level of manufacturing complexity.
So beautiful, a lot of foreign tourists come in search of Kotagede silver jewels as accessories or souvenirs. Interestingly, the beautiful silver craftsmanship of Kotagede is also widely exported abroad.
