Indonesian Handmade Clay Pottery Bowls by the Indigenous Mentawei - Set of 2, Brown

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Description

(2) Rinjan Lombok Indonesia Clay Pottery Bowls in a rich warm brown color with dark brown/blackish burnishing in interesting patterns … Read more (2) Rinjan Lombok Indonesia Clay Pottery Bowls in a rich warm brown color with dark brown/blackish burnishing in interesting patterns individual to each bowl.

Tribal art Handcrafted by Sasak indigenous women potters on the eastern part of the island of Lombok, Indonesia, these bowls are uniquely colored by the juice of the tamarind fruit. Special finishing clay, combined with sand, is shaped and dried for up to a month to avoid cracking, then smoothed with a mixture of coconut oil and East Lombok clay to produce the shine. Tending the kiln during the firing process, they are splashed with the juice of the tamarind fruit to achieve the mottled burnished look with darker spots and shifts in coloring. The resulting look is reminiscent of leather or wood.

The indigenous earthenware clay is dug locally and is greyish brown originally, but turns into a beautiful a rich warm burnt umber color when fired.

The potters work the clay by hand, using a round stone and a wooden paddle.

The clay used to produce Sasak pottery pots has been approved for food safety by New Zealand and UK testing authorities, and is considered food safe by the US FDA, so use as a fruit bowl should be ok.

They do hold up for a quick handwashing with a soft cloth and immediate drying with a soft dry towel. To buff out any scuffs you can use coconut oil and a soft cloth.

There is no glazing, the finish is matte with a sheen, so you get a nice feeling of the natural clay in your hand.

Large bowl: 6.5'' tall x 7.5'' in diameter

Small bowl: 4.25'' tall x 6'' in diameter

Please note that I am an enthusiast but not a professional expert or appraiser, so the condition, dates, origin, history and descriptions of vintage items are based on my own information, research and current knowledge. See less