Silverware-Making
Wualai’s beautiful silverware originates from the time King Mangrai established Chiang Mai in the 13th century as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. After negotiating with the city of Bagan to bring Burmese craftsmen to Chiang Mai to teach local townspeople the artistry of silver-crafting, the city’s local silverware industry was created and the skills have since been carried down through the generations.
Almost every house had a small factory, and people bought silver from Chinese merchants in Chiang Mai’s downtown to forge silverware for daily use and for sale: bowls, paddle trays, and the like. Men moulded and forged the silver, while women carved and sold the finished pieces.
As trade with different areas progressed, the raw material for silverware pieces grew varied – from Burmese rupees to coins from China’s autonomous region of Xishuangbanna Dai. Today, silver accessories and decorations are also popular, featuring prominently on the roofs of temples like Wat Sri Suphan – also known as the Silver Temple.
Umbrella-Making
This story is from the AG 02/2018 - 130 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
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This story is from the AG 02/2018 - 130 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
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