Wender·Vista
Istiqlal Mosque
shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileIndonesia
in central Jakarta, across the square from the cathedral

Istiqlal Mosque

— — the white that holds the call to prayer.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.
— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand
— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines
— Beside the kettle, a 12-inch propped
— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall
— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround
— a note from the studio

“The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, on the north side of Merdeka Square in Jakarta. The plan is modern, the materials plain: white marble, stainless steel, a single dome holding a vast prayer hall. Across the road, the spires of the Catholic cathedral. The two buildings share a parking lot on holy days. Nobody seems to find this strange.

from the studio
Istiqlal Mosque
— bring it home

Istiqlal Mosque, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?
One tile — square or rectangle.
How big?
the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand
6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb
Surface finish
A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.
How it sits
A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.
$58
Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.
— size
6 × 6 in
15 cm
— weighs
1.6 lb
solid in the hand
— surface
ceramic, hand-finished
art rests beneath a thin glossy finish
— from
Knoxville, TN
our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies
— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Istiqlal Mosque

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.
— the place

Istiqlal sits in central Jakarta on the north edge of Merdeka Square, directly opposite the Jakarta Cathedral. Construction began in 1961 and the mosque was inaugurated by President Suharto in 1978. The design came from Frederick Silaban, a Protestant architect from North Sumatra who won an open national competition. The main prayer hall holds roughly 200,000 worshippers across the central floor and four upper levels, making Istiqlal the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. The name means independence, chosen to mark the new republic's freedom from Dutch rule.

— informed by Wikipedia
— the stone

The building reads white from any angle. Italian marble lines the floors of the prayer hall and the long arcades around it. The single dome above measures forty-five metres across, sheathed in stainless steel rather than the gilded tile of older mosques in the region. A separate minaret rises beside the prayer hall, and the geometry is plain on purpose. Silaban's brief from Sukarno asked for a national house of worship, not an echo of Ottoman or Mughal models.

— informed by Wikipedia
— the visit

Istiqlal is open to visitors outside the five daily prayers and Friday congregational worship. The main entry for non-Muslim guests is on the south side; staff provide robes for visitors whose clothing does not meet the dress code. Guided tours run in English most afternoons and are offered without charge, though a small donation is customary. The mosque sits a short walk from Gambir station and the National Monument. On major holidays the parking lot is shared with the Catholic cathedral across the road.

— where
Indonesia · Central Jakarta, Jakarta
— position
-6.1700° S · 106.8311° E
— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.
at the lake
Jakarta Cathedral
Catholic cathedral
1 km S
National Monument
monument
1 km SW
Gambir Station
railway station
N
Istiqlal Mosque
Jakarta Cathedral
National Monument
Gambir Station
— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Istiqlal Mosque — and about bringing the piece home.
— about the place

Frederick Silaban, a Protestant architect from North Sumatra, won the 1955 design competition. President Sukarno selected his entry, which was simpler and more modern than the other finalists' Ottoman-influenced proposals.

Construction began in 1961 under President Sukarno and finished in 1978 under President Suharto, who formally inaugurated the building on 22 February of that year.

The main hall and four mezzanine levels together hold around 200,000 people during Friday prayers and the major Eid gatherings, making Istiqlal the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Istiqlal is Arabic for independence. The name marks Indonesia's freedom from Dutch colonial rule, declared on 17 August 1945, and was chosen by Sukarno when the project was approved.

Both buildings predate the modern square's layout: the cathedral opened in 1901, Istiqlal in 1978. Today they share a parking lot during holidays and host joint events on national interfaith days.

Yes. The south entrance is reserved for visitors, who are welcomed outside prayer times. Staff lend robes if needed and offer free guided tours, usually in English, most afternoons.

— about the piece in your home

It has been a welcome gift for many of our customers connected to Indonesia. Istiqlal is one of the city's quiet landmarks. A Small or Medium with a handwritten note from the studio travels well.

The white marble and steel of the building read clean and modern. The tile sits well in Minimalist, Japandi, and Tropical Modern rooms, anywhere the surrounding palette stays neutral.

Yes. Tropical Modern leans on white walls, teak, and pieces with a regional anchor. A framed tile of Istiqlal carries that anchor without crowding the room's existing greens and browns.

A single Large reads at three to four feet of viewing distance. Above a wider sofa, a four-tile Mural carries the wall, and a nine-tile Mural anchors a full feature wall.

Yes, in the Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both are scratch-resistant and tolerate humidity well, so the tile installs as a backsplash, shower surround, or framed piece beside a vanity.

A soft microfibre cloth and water are enough. For the glossy finish, a small amount of mild dish soap lifts kitchen residue. Avoid abrasive sponges and any cleaner with ammonia or bleach.

Yes. Every WenderVista tile is original to the studio. Reid curates each place, and the visual language is ours alone: no licensing, no third-party imagery, one studio from start to finish.

— if this one stayed with you

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