1.8 “Sailing” Silver Lanna Handicraft
The word “Sailing” in Lanna dialect
means a water - container. With a straight shape, almost
similar to a cylinder, it looks like a bowl which is large at the top with a
diameter slightly wider at the bottom. It is made of silver and engraved with
elaborate patterns. Containing the local wisdom inside, Salung is therefore one
of the precious and unique handicrafts of Lanna.
Salung requires skills from 2
branches of craftsmanship which are chasing and patterning. Chasing procedure
starts by heating and melting silver pallets in a terracotta crucible with high
temperature. After getting a silver plate, a gavel is used to chase around the
edges, bending the flat sheet into a desired shape of bowl without using a mould.
When Salung is well shaped, it will go to patterning step. Craftsman will
hammer on Salung to create pattern both inside and outside that makes patterns
of Lanna Salung unique. The hammering starts with Salung’s interior as per
their sketch design, thus making an embossed pattern appear on the exterior.
Then, he will fine - tune the embossed pattern by
hammering back from the outside to create a more elaborate and outstanding
pattern. The finished Salung will look red with 3D lively effects.
As the world is moving, Lanna
lifestyle has changed in both economic and cultural way. Unlike the past,
Salung is less involved with everyday life such as using to take water from a
well. However, it is still well kept in the cupboard of almost every Lanna
family house and will be used in traditional ceremonies or important rituals
like festive Lanna New Year (so called “Pee Mai Muang” festival) or buddhist
merit - making ceremonies like house warming, ordination,
etc.
At the present, Salung is most likely
used in Buddhist ceremonies or presented as a gift to respected elder persons
especially on their retirement. Since it is still demanded in this market
channel, Lanna craftsmen are encouraged to keep up their production of Salung
as a unique Lanna handicraft so that it is well preserved with Wua Lai
community till the end of time.
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