shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileIndonesia

on the equator in west Borneo, where the Kapuas meets the Landak

Pontianak

— — the city the sun crosses twice.

— 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

— 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 capital of West Kalimantan sits exactly on the equator, where the Kapuas — the longest river in Indonesia — meets the Landak. Wooden houses on stilts crowd the water; long boats carry leaf and timber upstream. Twice a year, at the equinox, shadows disappear under the equator monument at noon. The river runs the colour of strong tea, and the air carries the smoke of clove cigarettes.

from the studio

— bring it home

Pontianak, 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 Pontianak

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

Pontianak is the capital of Indonesia's West Kalimantan province, on the western coast of Borneo at the confluence of the Kapuas Besar and Landak rivers. The equator runs directly through the city, marked by the Tugu Khatulistiwa monument on the north bank. Founded in 1771 by the Hashemite sultan Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie, the city now holds about 660,000 residents and serves as the principal port for the interior of Kalimantan.

— informed by Wikipedia, City of Pontianak

— the water

The Kapuas, which Pontianak straddles, is the longest river in Indonesia at 1,143 kilometres, draining most of West Kalimantan from the Müller Mountains to the Java Sea. The current at the city is slow and tidal — flow reverses twice daily — and the water carries enough peat tannin to read the colour of dark tea. The traditional Malay houses along the banks stand on hardwood stilts above the high-water mark.

— informed by Wikipedia — Kapuas River

— the visit

Pontianak is reached by direct flights from Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur into Supadio International Airport, about 17 kilometres south of the city. The Tugu Khatulistiwa equator monument is the principal landmark; the Sultan's palace, the Istana Kadriah, sits on the north bank and is open to visitors. The two equinoxes — around 21 March and 23 September — draw small crowds at noon to watch shadows vanish under the monument.

— informed by City of Pontianak

— where

Indonesia · Pontianak, West Kalimantan

— elevation

3 m · 10 ft

— position

0.0263° N · 109.3425° 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.

3 km N

Tugu Khatulistiwa

equator monument

2 km NE

Istana Kadriah

sultan's palace

145 km N

Singkawang

coastal town

400 km NE

Kuching

Sarawak capital

Pontianak

Tugu Khatulistiwa

Istana Kadriah

Singkawang

Kuching

— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Pontianak — and about bringing the piece home.

— about the place

It is the capital of West Kalimantan province on the western coast of Borneo, in Indonesia, sitting directly on the equator at the confluence of the Kapuas and Landak rivers.

The city is one of the few major settlements in the world that sits exactly on the equator. The Tugu Khatulistiwa monument marks the line on the north bank of the river.

The city was founded in 1771 by Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie, who established the Sultanate of Pontianak at the river junction. His palace, the Istana Kadriah, still stands.

At 1,143 kilometres, the Kapuas is the longest river in Indonesia. It drains most of West Kalimantan from the Müller Mountains and meets the Java Sea at Pontianak.

Around 21 March and 23 September, the sun passes directly overhead at noon and vertical objects cast no shadow. Visitors gather at the equator monument to watch the effect.

Direct flights connect Pontianak to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and several Indonesian cities through Supadio International Airport (PNK), about 17 kilometres south of the city centre.

— about the piece in your home

It has resonated with customers whose family roots are in West Kalimantan or who travelled there as expatriates. A Small or Coaster Set with a handwritten note carries well.

The tea-river ochres and equatorial greens sit well in tropical-modern, biophilic, and warm Bohemian interiors, and against teak or rattan in a colonial-revival room.

Yes. Tropical-modern interiors lean on layered greens, tea-river ochres, and unfinished wood — the Pontianak palette of river, jungle, and stilt-house timber sits naturally in that family.

A single Large reads cleanly above most consoles. Above a full sofa, a 4-tile Mural balances the width; the 9-tile Mural gives a long wall its full river.

Yes. Choose the Dura Satin or Matte finish for backsplashes, showers, or vertical installations. The colour lives in the ceramic surface and is unaffected by humidity.

A microfibre cloth with water is enough. Avoid abrasive pads and bleach-based cleaners. The finish protects the surface for ordinary household use.

— if this one stayed with you