1.9 Wisdom of
Silverware
Wua Lai silverware has been
considered as heritage of Lanna wisdom for more than 700 years. Its history can
be traced back to the period of King Meng Rai who established Chiang Mai city
and brought many branches of Chiang Saen craftsmanship to Lanna Kingdom. In
1767, King Kawila restored Chiang Mai city with policy “Bring crops to
basket, bring citizen to town”. He encouraged royal families to move into the city as well
as mobilized villagers and artisans from Kong River in the Salawin basin to
reside around Chiang Mai city wall. Silversmiths built their houses in the
community of Wat Sri Suphan and Wat Muen Sam and lived there ever since.
Silver is valued as a precious metal.
It has a brilliant white metallic luster as well as malleability, good for
bending and spreading into a silver sheet. However, pure silver is so malleable
that it cannot be shaped into ornament. Copper has to
be added to make it harder.
Silverware is traditionally made from sterling silver, an alloy of 92.5% silver
with 7.5% copper. It is harder than pure silver but still malleable enough to
transform into jewellery and silverware.
Silverware
production has several techniques which are
•
Covering: To chase or roll silver sheet into a
thin flat plate and cover it on any object so that it appears as if it is made
of silver.
•
Molding: First create a mould, then pour
molten silver into a mould to form a shape or pattern as designed.
•
Embossing: To chase or roll silver sheet into a
thin flat plate, then use proper tools to press onto the surface until designed
pattern is formed. It is called “Lai Dune” or “Roop Dune”, meaning embossed
pattern or embossed figure.
•
Engraving: To make a pattern by using a sharp
tools like chisel to engrave on silver sheet.
•
Plating: To cover a metal object with liquid
silver. First, silver will be melted into liquid and then applied or coated on
the metal object.
•
Inlaying: To apply silver piece onto a metal
object to create beautiful pattern. It is called “Kram Ngoen” or inlay with
silver. This technique is often applied to sharp objects such as hilt or sheath
of traditional knife. Popular pattern is such as “Krajang” or “Kanok” which is
Thai pattern created and applied from a natural concept of leaves and flowers.
Nowadays, Wua Lai silver ornaments
have changed distinctively and offered more various designs. In the past,
manufacturer proposed the old pattern inherited from the previous generation.
Now, they pay more attention to customer’s needs and try to adapt the old
pattern to more international style. They also give more interest to mid - level consumers. Although the taste of consumers has changed
along the time, Wua Lai silver craftsmen are still passionate to create unique
Wua Lai silver works to preserve Lanna’s charm till the present day.
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