Abstract

The tradition of making and using ceramics has long been present in the history of human culture. As a cultural product, ceramics cannot be separated from the social system and beliefs of the people who make it. Until now, apart from the development of the modern art and ceramics industry, there are several rural areas in the world whose people still maintain the concepts, materials, and techniques of making traditional ceramics, such as in Plered, West Java Province, Indonesia. Since the end of 2005, the number of Plered ceramic craftsmen has continued to decline despite the revitalization of the craft center through training activities, assistance in production and design techniques, and equipment assistance from the government. This research was conducted to obtain a mapping of the factual conditions of the current Plered ceramic craft tradition in order to find a model for the revitalization of the center as a result of adaptation of local traditions. The research was conducted from 2018 to 2021 using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods with a descriptive research design. All data in this research were obtained through field observations, semi-structured questionnaires on ninety craftsmen, and interviews with seventeen participants from craftsmen, raw material processors, community leaders, and government advisors. The results showed that the manufacture of Plered ceramics has a local tradition based on belief in myths, legends, ancestral spirits, and different categories of craftsmen according to the type of product they make, so that the right strategy is needed in carrying out revitalization in order to build harmony between local traditions and demands for change in the progress of Plered ceramic craft center in the future.