Roof Tiles in Bali, Indonesia

Roofs all over Bali are topped with decorative terracotta ceramic tiles. The swastika is a universal symbol. In Bali it decorates the central roof tile of the homes of Hindu people.


The decorative clay tiles are made by press molding and modeling. The following photos were taken at  Industri Genteng Press, ud. Pondok Indah, jl. Pantai, Kedungu-Kediri, Bali, Indonesia.

A moon and star decorates the central roof tile of the homes of Muslim people. A variety of tile styles are press molded.

The press is cleaned with a cloth, then clay is placed on the mold. As the top is screwed down, the clay is pressed into the shape of a tile.

The decorative tile is modeled on a rotating platform. Wet clay coils are used to bond the leather-hard press-molded components together.

A thick coil spans the gap between two flat pieces. After placement, it is sculpted with a wire tool.

The sculpted surface is smoothed with water. The next piece is press molded by hand, the edges are cut with a wire tool, then it is attached.


A decorative coil is prepared, put in place, then smoothed. A hollow tool is used to impress curved lines into the almost finished tile. the tile is left to dry, then it is fired in an updraft wood burning kiln. They are painted after firing.

The following photos were taken at DS Jual Genteng, jl. Darmasaba, Lukluk, Abiansemal, Badung, Bali, Indonesia, telephone: (0361) 410291.

The edges of  two press-molded slabs are wet with water, then a thick coil is applied and modeled.

Matching press molded pieces are cut with a wire tool, wet, scored . . .

. . . then joined together with a coil of clay. The decorative piece is joined with a coil of clay, then a wire tool is used to sculpt the edges. After completely drying, it will be fired in a wood-burning kiln.

Links:
 Woodcarving in Bali, Indonesia 
Stone Carving in Bali, Indonesia 
Water Buffalo Horn Carving in Bali, Indonesia 
Rawhide Shadow Puppets and Dance Accessories in Bali, Indonesia  
Traditional Painting in Bali, Indonesia
Batik in Java and Bali 
Ikat Weaving in Bali, Indonesia
Songket Weaving in Bali, Indonesia
Filigreee in Java, Indonesia 
Kris in Java and Bali, Indonesia 
Gamelan in Bali, Indonesia 
Tiles and Ceramics of Seville, Spain  
Tiles and Ceramics of Talavera de la Reina, Spain  
Tiles and Ceramics of Ubeda, Spain  
Monje Ceramics of Lora del Rio, Spain
Earthenware Tiles of Portugal  
Majolica Ceramics of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal  
Traditional Dunzi Production in Yaoli, China
Porcelain production in Jingdezhen, China
Mexican Ceramist, Capelo
Mexican Ceramist, Angelica Escarcega Rodriguez
Mexican Ceramist, José Luis Méndez Ortega
Mexican Ceramists, Guevara Ceramics
Mexican Ceramist, Tecpatl Ceramics    
Maya Reproductions   

Recommended Guide:
Rudy (arranged through Tutut) was my fabulous bilingual guide and driver in Bali.

Web page, photographs, and text by Carol Ventura in 2007. Please look at Carol's home page to see more about crafts around the world.