Story Behind The Java Beads aka Manik Manik Gudo - Jombang

Umm ... I tried to collect some articles about java beads or we - Indonesian - call it as manik manik Gudo - Jombang. 3 articles I turned become one. I wanted to get a comprehensive info about the beads. I've tried to interview the owner stores there, but most of them are not in place. They stay at Bali. Aha...so no wonder if manik manik Gudo goes to international via Bali tourism right. So I decide to googling. The information that I found, I wrote back in the form of 'question and answer' so it's much easier to re-write and understandable . Ready? Here we go ...


Why it calls as manik manik Gudo?
Cause the place where the lampwork glass beads made, take place at Gudo sub-district, the village's name is Plumbon - Gambang, Jombang city, province of East Java. And that's why foreigner calls it as Java Beads.


Since when this beads craft starts in Gudo?
Gudo residents are familiar with the beads around the 1970's. Pioneer craft are Wachid and Sugiyo. Initially the glass material is formed into fruits, flowers, and chaplet. New in 1980 switched to the beads. The change began when there were two residents of Borneo came and asked for a necklace of beads like the example that was taken. After a try, it worked well. This new creation was quickly accepted by the market. Since then, progress of Gudo beads even more rapidly.


Usually Gudo beads used for anything other than jewelry?
Can be used for collections, decoration, customs purposes, and as interior. If for decoration are common. Later known, was the beauty of beads can be combined with the interior. For example, with ornate draperies, bed, chair, until the lamp shade. Depending on the ability of designers to integrate them.


The idea of bead's motives where is it come from?
Usually seen on internet, what kind of motive is trend for now. But also there is a true ethnic, such as bead that special orders for the Dayak tribe of Borneo or the communities in NTT. Also a special order from overseas.


What are the raw materials?
Main material is clear glass. But mostly from recycled glass, so environmentally friendly. And the technique used is the technique of our own creation. The tools are still traditional. Not using the machine.


How is the process, until produce beads?
Much beads are made of recycled glass. Empty bottles or broken glass from the factory, thawed in pottery container. After melted, formed into glass rods.
Above the stove (made of bricks) and gas cylinder (which was structured so that the flame fire is much like torch), artisan baking rods glass with the tools from wire which kaolin-coated as a boundary. So the hot when grilling rod glass not on the palms of the artisan. After becoming beads, then the beads are usually decorated with colored seed beads from Japan / Taiwan which is also first converted into rods. The temperature needed to make the glass melted is 1300 degrees Celsius * wow *

How much is the bead's price commonly?

Prices range between US$ 0.09  to US$ 7, depending on the shape and size plus the extra process when the beads made.

Below are some pictures shot by Zahra. From the pictures, we can imagine how hot the working-room where the bead artisan work. All tools are assembled, there is no modern tools like in overseas, a super-sophisticated tools to make beads. So I'm proud to help them introduce this manik manik Gudo aka Java Beads *smile*

Credit to :

http://nostalgia.tabloidnova.com/

http://www.beadsflowers.com/

http://zahiranew.multiply.com/