Bentangan Pottery Village Preserves Klaten's Earthenware Heritage

RRI.CO.ID, Klaten - Bentangan Pottery Village preserves a traditional earthenware craft that has survived generations in Wonosari, Klaten, Central Java. The craft center is located in Bentangan Village, where pottery remains part of the local community's livelihood.

The village is marked by a large gateway identifying it as a pottery industry center. Traditional kilns and rice-husk smoke form part of the everyday atmosphere surrounding local pottery production.

Around 40 active home-based workshops remain in Bentangan today. Artisans continue shaping clay using traditional upright pottery wheels, preserving techniques passed down through generations.

The pottery includes cooking utensils such as anglo, clay frying pans, water vessels called kendi, and flower pots. Some artisans also produce kuali and traditional clay containers used in Javanese customs.

The craft has maintained its place despite the growing use of plastic and modern household appliances. Traditional pottery continues to appeal to people seeking functional products with a connection to local heritage.

One distinctive feature is the traditional firing process, which is generally conducted collectively once a month. This process transforms the handmade clay products into durable household and cultural objects.

Bentangan therefore represents more than a production center for traditional pottery. It reflects how local communities preserve craftsmanship, cultural knowledge, and rural traditions amid rapid modernization.