A Study Toward the Influences Affecting Design and Motifs of Terenang Pottery

Abstract

Terenang pottery has been known to exist since the prehistoric era. During the Mesolithic period, there were claims that this earthenware exhibited some influences from the Hoabinhian culture. Derived from the word 'tunang', Terenang originally acted as a container for the rings during the engagement ceremony in Pahang. The pottery has been produced for many generations in Kampung Pasir Durian, Jerantut where Temin Kraf Enterprise is the sole practitioner to continue the Pahang pottery heritage. Research shows that the designs of the pottery still display such strong prehistoric influences;-having primitive features such as buyung (gourd-shaped) and belanga (pot). Meanwhile, primitive techniques are still being applied in the creation of the motifs such as application, incision, impression and burnishing. The motifs in the pottery artefacts were influenced by different categories of values such as flora, fauna, object, mythology, cosmology and prehistoric. The designs and motifs in Terenang pottery have been evolving along with the progressive modernization, environments, and the development in pottery knowledge. This variation shows that Terenang pottery has its own class's specialties and uniqueness. Therefore, this study aims to identify the influence agencies on Terenang pottery's motifs and designs. This study is a qualitative research with interview, observation, and documentation methods. This study also aims to explore influence that may still exist in the current Malay pottery production. Perhaps, the outcomes of this research can benefit the pottery practitioners in the context of providing the knowledge to the visitors and local community.