The material rattan is originally comes from 3 big islands in Indonesia, Borneo Island, Sulawesi Island and Sumatera Island.
The most commonly used Rattan from Sumatera are : Manau and Slimit. From Borneo are : Irit, Taman, and Semambu. Menawhile the most important from Sulawesi are : Mandola and Tohiti.
Eventhough the natural rattan materials come from islands outside of Java island, but the assembling process and the final process of furniture making occurs in Java Island.
In Java Island itself, rattan is not as good in quality as in other island. The quantity is also fewer.
So in Java Island especially in Cirebon city, West Java Province, Indonesia, the process of making rattan into furniture is taken place. Cirebon is located on the north coast of Java Island, on the east part of West Java Province, near the provincial border with Central Java Province.
It is approximately 290 km East of Jakarta. If you take train it will take 3 hours from Gambir Train Station. If you drive car, it will take 5 hours from Jakarta.
Cirebon itself does ot own rattan forest. So why Rattan Furniture industry located in Cirebon ?
There are several factors. First, Cirebon people especially in Plered and Plumbon area have been famous for its craftsmanship. Batik and Pottery center are also loacted in this area,
Secondly, the location of Cirebon is near Jakarta. Many supporting industry are needed to support rattan industry, such as paint , nails, foam, fabric, glue, screws etc. All of them could be accessed easily from Jakarta.
The third, is the low wages comparatively with other industry area such as Jakarta, Surabaya, or Bandung.
Therefore eventhough during the financial crisis, the rattan industry in Cirebon is still exist when the same industry in Surabaya and Solo decreasing.
Those factors are among all make Cirebon as the center of Rattan Industry in Indonesia.
So, when you buy rattan furniture, it is high probability from Indonesia and especially from Cirebon city.
