Jepara Indonesia, The City of Furniture

Jepara Indonesia, a small town and a district of the same name, is situated on the northern coast of Java in Indonesia. The total population of Jepara is about a million and comprises mostly of the Javanese.

Jepara was once ruled by Queen Kalinyamat in the mid sixteenth century. It was burned twice by the Dutch who had monopolized the trade of Jepara. The district of Jepara remained very poor in the past but it has developed a lot in recent times.

Jepara is famous for its handcrafted wooden furniture and garden furniture. One can witness a large number of shops and warehouses selling furniture in Jepara. Artisans working to produce intricately carved furniture is a common sight. Jepara specializes in making reproductions of antique furniture. Furniture made according to the order of the customer is also common. The famous teak patio furniture sold in Java and Bali come from Jepara. The methods and processes used by the artisans have remained almost the same throughout the ages. The exquisitely carved ornate furniture is a favorite among all. The thriving furniture industry has helped Jepara to develop its economy.

Almost 500,000 people of Jepara are involved in the furniture industry, mostly concentrated in the small and medium enterprises in the villages of Jepara. Many associated enterprises include the transportation, packing, shipping of the furniture, these too employ a number of the population.

The other attraction of Jepara is the carefully crafted wooden panels depicting legends and stories from mythology. The details of the wood carvings and the three dimensional effects add to the charm of the artifacts.