The history of Jepara City into a city famous for carvings and furniture to foreign countries cannot be separated from the long journey that this city has gone through. Talking about the history of Jepara City, we must first find out about the origin of this city.
Jepara City is located on the north coast of the island of Java. The history of Jepara City dates back to the days of the Demak Kingdom in the 15th century. At that time, Jepara was known as one of the centers for boat crafts. In addition, wood carving production has also existed since the Majapahit kingdom.
However, the wood carving and furniture industry only really flourished in Jepara in the 19th century. At that time, there was a significant change in Jepara. Many Jepara residents switched from being fishermen or farmers to wood carvers and furniture makers. This change occurred because the wood carving and furniture industry proved to be very profitable.
In addition to the domestic market, furniture exports from Jepara began to increase in the early 20th century. At that time, the Netherlands was the country that imported the most furniture from Jepara. The furniture produced in this city is famous for its excellent quality and affordable prices. This made Jepara furniture craftsmen grow.
During the Japanese colonization, the production of furniture and wood carvings in Jepara decreased. However, the industry revived during the Indonesian independence period. Today, Jepara is one of the largest furniture and wood carving production centers in Indonesia and even abroad.
In the process of development, Jepara furniture craftsmen use carving techniques and arts that have been passed down from generation to generation. The wood carving technique used in Jepara is known to be very delicate and detailed, making it very famous in the world. Most of the raw materials used to make furniture and carvings are teak and mahogany.
Jepara furniture and carving products have been exported all over the world, from the United States, Europe, to Australia. This makes the name of Jepara City even more soaring in the international arena. Not only that, Jepara furniture and wood carving craftsmen also never stop creating innovations and combining traditional techniques with modern technology.
Thanks to all that, Jepara has become a very famous city for the production of carvings and furniture. Not only has it become an industrial center recognized by other countries, but Jepara has also managed to promote the beauty of its culture throughout the world. That is the history of Jepara City which became famous for carvings and furniture, which has gone through a long journey since the royal era until now.