| |
THE BURMESE SILVER WORK
Myanmar silverwork is an ancient industry dating back to the 13th Century. Monarchs customarily used silver and gold bowls as rewards for the ministers and the attendants' loyalty and faithfulness to the royal family. Silver items were also a symbol of wealth because only the ministers, the generals and the rich citizens used silver for items such as betel-nut boxes and stands, flower bowls and vases, spittoons, daggers, dagger sheaths, and regalia and waistbands for the kings.
The poor citizens could not afford silverware and monks and clergy refrained from using any worldly luxury except for religious purposes when silver was used for altar vases and Buddha statues.
On ceremonial occasions such as wedding celebrations, ear boring ceremonies or novitiation feasts, huge silver bowls and vases were used.
Silver bowls made of ngwe-zin-baw-phyu, the best kind of silver, are so flexible they usually bend until the rims meet when gripped in the palms of the hand. Another grade of silver quality ywet-ni is obtained from an amalgam composed of equal parts of silver and copper. During the British regime, this was mostly used for silver coins.
|
| |
| |
 |
Current Pages : 2 Total Pages: 5
|
| Go to: «1[2] 345» |
|
QUICK GUIDANCE,...
