Located in the Southeast corner of Yogyakarta, Kotagede is famous for a variety of traditional handicrafts. One that still survives is the craft of the horn. In fact there is only one existing only in the town. He was Harto Mulyono, a resident of RT 07 RW 03, Kampung Gedongan, Village Purbayan, District Kotagede, Yogyakarta.
He began his horn craft has been since 1952. Even in the modern era has been as it is now, but Pak Harto, greeting familiar, survive using traditional tools. "I also had modern equipment but it was regarded as a complement course work" he said. The 76-year old tells to produce products that are of good quality and durable, he simply use the horn of a buffalo and cow horns (Ox metal and Bali cattle). He said buffalo horn usually have higher prices because buffalo horn has better quality and is more difficult to obtain materials. The horns come from, Bali, Sumatra, East Java. "While the horns coming from other animals such as goats and deer antlers are very difficult to be processed due to containing calcium high so that the horn becomes hard and brittle when bent" said the father of five children and five grandchildren. Although the horns come from Bali, Sumatra and East Java, but He usually buy horns in Hamlet Kuwel, Klaten, Central Java. "I've been there from the first subscription, in Kuwel indeed many craftsmen horns like me, for one kilo horn I bought at a price of Rp 50,000" he said. He explained to produce handicrafts horns, antlers process is cut to form the object to be created. Furthermore, the horn is heated to be easily formed.
After it is pressed to match the desired shape. Horn then honed to be smooth and shiny. He gave the example of natural pembutan back massagers, first horns split and burned so soft, then pressed so that a straight slab. It was only after it was made to order patterns and cut with a saw. "After it was polished by tools of the new miser burned again before printing. The handle is made if the pattern rough shape made up "he said. To create a pattern, he added, usually by pinning in tanggem. After sawed follow the pattern, back massager tool that is so scraped across the surface to remove the parchment skin rough. "Then smoothed by using sandpaper. To pose a shiny color, ladle dipole "he said. He added that there are no chemicals in the slightest that he used in processing craft horns. "Totally natural, original color according horns." He added.
When asked horns crafts related demand in the market today, he admitted that in 1990 experienced a golden age. However, over time, the craft began little demand. "In the past I could employ up to 20 employees, but now I only have one employee, and even then not every day I call, because I sometimes during the week there was no booking at all" he said. For marketing, he is currently rely on guests who came to his house and neighbors about who ordered products. "Shops that want to take my stuff now only one, and even then not regularly, at least twice a month only" he said.
Craft items Pak Harto works sold at a fairly cheap price. On average the products sold from Rp 7,000 to Rp 150,000. For copper painting tools Rp 7,000, hair combs Rp 20,000, Rp 25,000 rice scoop, pipes for smoking Rp 20,000, Rp 20,000 back massagers, cup Rp 25,000. "Garang Puppet Rp 40,000 (for Janoko, Kuntodewo, and Punowokawan), ferocious puppet Rp 150,000 (Werkudara, and Gatutkaca), Plugs bun Rp 30,000, Rp 15,000 bracelets, agate binder (entailed) Rp 15,000" he added. He hoped the Government could help to market kerajinanya. "Maybe by exhibiting the craft I can get back on the rise again" he concluded (Han)
