| The State of Perak in Malaysia is known as the | | | | pandan are considered more superior to that |
| "Silver State" as it was once rich in tin, which has | | | | woven from mengkuang as the former is more |
| a silvery sheen. Today, the State is more | | | | pliable. The leaves, either pandan or mengkuang, |
| renowned for its traditional handicrafts rather than | | | | are prepared for weaving by cutting them at |
| the vestiges of its tin-mining industry. The villages | | | | both ends. The spine and thorns are stripped |
| of Enggor, Kampung Berala, Kampong Padang | | | | from the leaves, which are then sorted into sets |
| Changkat, Sayong and Kampong Kepala Bendang | | | | of equal lengths. |
| are among the main centres for handicrafts | | | | Sometimes, mengkuang leaves are lightly pounded |
| production, especially the famous labu sayong, | | | | with a club to soften them. They are then soaked |
| anyaman tikar and tekat. | | | | in water for two days and dried in the shade. |
| Labu sayong is a generic name for water pitchers | | | | Once dry, the leaves are divided into two |
| produced in the village of Sayong, just outside | | | | portions. One portion is meant to be used in its |
| Kuala Kangsar. Shiny and black, these | | | | natural colour while the other is soaked in dye |
| gourd-shaped bottles have variations in form. A | | | | that has been boiled in water. Purple and dark blue |
| labu tanah is based after the bottle gourd, while a | | | | are standard colours though more vibrant colours |
| labu pucung has a long cylindrical neck similar to | | | | such as yellow and pink are also gaining popularity. |
| that of a heron's that is commonly found in paddy | | | | After being immersed for one hour, the leaves |
| fields. The labu gelugor takes its name from the | | | | are removed and allowed to dry. What follows is |
| assam gelugor which is a yellow-orange fluted | | | | the smoothening of the leaves using a bamboo or |
| citrus fruit that is used as seasoning in curries. | | | | wooden smoother. |
| This particular water pitcher has bulges around its | | | | The weaving process can now begin, and a |
| body. The labu panai has ribs all round, either | | | | variety of techniques is used to produce plaits of |
| vertically or horizontally. Neolithic Age potshreds | | | | different patterns that are named after plants |
| found in Lenggong, Perak indicate that the making | | | | and animals such as bamboo shoot, durian flower, |
| of labu is an ancient art that has been refined | | | | clove flower, flying fox's elbow, tiger's paw, |
| through time. | | | | cockroach's wing and sandpiper's claw. It takes |
| The making of labu is predominantly the domain | | | | about ten to fifteen days to complete a mat, |
| of womenfolk. The first step in making this type | | | | depending on its size and the skill of the weaver. |
| of water pitcher is the collection of clay from a | | | | The weaving of pandan and mengkuang leaves |
| river bank. In days of yore, a menstruating | | | | not only produces mats but baskets, food |
| woman was disallowed to do this task or even be | | | | covers, wallets, fans, boxes and hats - serving |
| in the vicinity while the clay was being collected. | | | | both functional and decorative purposes. |
| The clay is dried in the sun, and a mortar and | | | | Unique to Perak, tekat is a Malay art form with a |
| pestle worked by foot is used to pound it so that | | | | unique identity. It is a type of gold embroidery |
| it is free of air pockets. It is then sieved to | | | | produced by stitching gold thread over card |
| remove coarse materials, and shaped into a | | | | templates to create raised relief on velvet. |
| cylinder using a mould for easy handling. | | | | Common colours of the velvet are green, blue |
| The process of shaping the clay begins by coiling | | | | and red. The contrast of gold over the velvet |
| a cylindrical piece from end to end, forming a | | | | produces a delicate handiwork that is high in visual |
| circle. The potter's wheel is then spun and the clay | | | | beauty. The motifs used are inspired by plants |
| pinched with the thumb and forefinger so that it | | | | and flowers such as cempaka flower, jasmine and |
| rises vertically. Skill and control are required to | | | | water-lettuce leaves. Spangles are also sometimes |
| shape the body, neck and head. A bamboo | | | | used to achieve special effects. Tekat pieces are |
| spatula is used to shave off excess clay while a | | | | traditionally used on pillow cases, cushion covers, |
| small, wooden paddle is used to shape and firm | | | | betel nut boxes and slippers. |
| the body. Finally, a flat piece of clay attached to | | | | To keep with changing times, applications of tekat |
| the body becomes its foot. The pitcher is now | | | | now include handbags, table cloth, decorative wall |
| decorated with motifs and smoothened with | | | | panels and prayer mats. In Perak weddings, the |
| pebbles. It is then placed inverted in a kiln. After | | | | use of tekat is mandatory. Bukit Chandan, a |
| firing for four hours, it is removed and buried in | | | | village near Istana Iskandariah, the sultan's palace, |
| paddy chaff, which imparts a black sheen to it. A | | | | is believed to the birthplace of tekat. In the olden |
| coat of resin is applied to its foot to make it | | | | days, mothers passed the techniques to their |
| waterproof. | | | | daughters who were required to create their own |
| Another popular traditional handicraft is the | | | | tekat pieces to be paraded at their weddings. |
| weaving of mats from pandan (pandanus) and | | | | Though machined tekat is now available, it is the |
| mengkuang (screwpine) leaves. Mats woven from | | | | hand-stitched designs that are highly treasured. |