The presence of silver craftsmen appear along with the birth of the kingdom of Mataram, Kota Gede is an area where the former capital of the Mataram kingdom which was founded by Panembahan Senopati. The development of silver Kotagede not be separated also from the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) that go to Yogyakarta around the 16th century. At that time, many traders are ordering VOC household appliances from gold, silver, copper and brass to a population of approximately Kotagede.
Until now, people in the region Kotagede still many who work as craftsmen. Some of them work as craftsmen of gold, silver, copper, brass, horns and many others. Over time, silver became the most popular products, so many craftsmen who choose to become a silversmith and silver in its development characterizes Kotagede area.
Silver craft stalls and shops in the town can be easily we meet along the road in this area. Generally, the craftsmen have a showroom to display their silver products. One of the centers of a showroom located at Jalan Packaging Kotagede, this region is an area of strategic sales of silver. There are about 40 showrooms or stores of silver on a small scale, medium and large.
Not only showroom along the way that you can pack just visit, because a lot of silver craftsmen who are located within the township one of them is in Kampung Basen. This tourist village has many craftsmen silver with silver diversity and of course if you buy the product directly to the craftsmen, which is more economical price you can get. Basen Tourism Village is located in RW 04, Purbayan village, Kotagede.
Types of silver sold in the region Kotagede diverse, mostly selling silver type the numbers 925 means 925 indicates the percentage of silver content in it. 925 means 92.5% silver + 7.5% copper, because if you made 100% pure silver is too soft. Copper as a mixture of silver metallic material that could be stronger processed into jewelry. Silver has a pure silver levels ranging from 999, 925, 850, 835, 825, and 800. For silver with purity levels of 800 would be faster black (oxidized) than the silver with a purity tigkat 925. That's why rarely found silver jewelry stamped with 800.
Silver Raw Materials
Kotagede silver raw material there are 2 silver sheet that is commonly called Gilapan and threads of silver which is usually called a trap or Filigran. In any manufacturing process, it was not entirely made from pure silver, but there is mixing with the copper. One hundred percent of silver mixed with 7.5% copper. Because if pure silver is too soft and less powerful to be used as crafts, therefore mixed copper as pengerasnya.
Product
At least there are three types of products sold, namely:
Handmade silver (Handmade)
The silver is purely made by hand, without relying on the machine. From the beginning to the end of the process done by hand. Craft is what is the origin of the silver industry in the town of Yogyakarta and even even today silver in the town is still dominated by handmade crafts (handmade).
Silver-made machines (Machinery)
The silver machine production system is also a system of mass production such as casting. It's just here to use machines instead of casting machines.
The products typically are made with machine chain necklaces and bracelets. Similarly, casting machines, jewelry making machine this price is also quite expensive. In Indonesia, silver handicrafts are made with the engine came from East Java.
Silver prints (Casting)
Lately silver molds often made of silver production alternatives. Especially for large quantities of product demand and a limited time.
Actually the system of making silver print / casting are some techniques. From the use of simple tools to use centrifugal casting machine which pretty expensive. And usually jewelry products on the market are made by centrifugal casting machine.
Excellence
Silver craftsmen in the town famous for its unique products, subtle and patient in working on their silver products that produce high-value artwork. Kotagede silver is a very valuable souvenirs and collections that can be passed between generations.
Price
The selling price of silver Kotagede vary the cheapest brooch average Rp 10 thousand, silver rings starting price of USD 100 thousand, 250 thousand USD pedicab miniature, miniature andhong USD 200 thousand to a miniature sailing ship, eating utensils, and the miniature temple of Borobudur all of which can reach prices of up to Rp 30 million depending on the complexity and amount of raw materials used.
