Handicraft Workshop

The art of tapestry or Shwe Chi Hto as locally called is said to have originated in Myanmar about a thousand years ago. It is a form of needlework creating a variety of pictures and patterns so fine and particular that it requires skill, artistry and patience. It is a highly decorative piece of embroidery that employs gold thread as its name indicates, but silver and coloured threads as well as other materials such as sequins, semi-precious gems, colourful cut glass, seed pearls and beeds go into the making. The centre of this craft was and still is Mandalay, the long-standing central point of Myanmar culture and art.
It takes a lot of time, practice and constant effort to become skilled in this decorative art of embroidery. To create an artistic piece of traditional gold thread embroidery one needs a piece of white cloth of suitable size that has to be stretched and tightened on a square wooden frame. Then on the form and smooth surface the figures for the desired parrerns are sketched in outline with charcoal. The sketched outlines are then stiched over with gold, silver or coloured thread. This is the border of the central picture of the embroidery. Then the ornaments such as silver stars, sequins, cut glass, beeds and seed pearls are swen on to form the picture to life. Then the stiches are brushed over with glue on the underside to strangthen and prevent the threads from breaking. It also makes it easier to cut out the figures separately. The cut figures or pictures are then applied on the piece of velvet or silk which will form the background of the embroidery. An opening is left through which cotton is later stuffed to make an embossed figure. Then other decorations such as sequins, beads, seed pearls and semiprecious gems are added around the figure, which is the central part of the embroidery, to from a backdrop. Depending on the main figure, this backdrop could be a palace or a pond, a forest or any patterns shapes pleasing to the eye. Some of the more worked out with much care and in great detail tapestries bring to life tales from the jatakas, tales of bravery in war and historic events.Sometimes a colour painting or a patchwork of coloured velvet is added into the picture. Whatever it may be, it is sure to require great skill and artistry. The gem-studded embroidery has to also call upon the work of gold and silver smiths.So a picturesque tapestry is hardly the work of a single craftsman but a cooperative effort.
Many objects as well as buildings and residences were decorated with gold and silver tapestries were used to decorate the celing of a shrine hall or some were used as room dividers and wall hangings in monasteries.
Nowadays, Myanmar tapestry has become an attraction for tourists from foreign countries. The traditional tapestries are still available but there are many eye-catching novelties like purse, handbags, cuchion covers and even caps.
But the basic fighres and illustractions and the techniques remain about the same.

Raw lacquer is tapped from the bark of thitsi tree (in the same way as milk-white liquid is taken from the rubber tree). As soon as the sticky-gray sap comes in contact with the air, it turns hard and black.Pagan is the centre of the lacquerware industry. Lower quality products have a gilded Lacquer relief on a wooden base where better quality wares have a core of light bamboo wicker-work, likely to last for a long time.
The basic structure is coated with a layer of Lacquer and clay, then put in a cool and airy place to dry. Every manufacturer has an underground cellar for the wares to harden in. After three or four days the ware is sealed with a paste of Lacquer and ash, the fineness of ash determining the quantity the quantity of the work. It may come from sawdust, paddy husk or even cow dung. After this coating dries, the object is polished smooth. Over a period of time it is given several successive coats of Lacquer to etiminate irregularities.
At this stage, the ware is black. But the artist isn't finished, ornamental and figurative designs must still be added. Cheaper articles are simply painted.The more expensive ones are beautified by means of designing, painting and polishing. A similar effect can be produced with colored reliefs, painted and partially polished. Red, Yellow, Blue and Gold are the colors usually used. The production of a multi colored Lacquerware takes about six months, as it must go through 12 or more stages of production.
Kyauk Kar in Monyaw Township is also on of the main Lacquerware centers like Bagan where visitors can buy quality vases, jewel boxes, dinnerware sets and other items.

First, clay and paddy husk must be mixed throughly.
After that, figure out the mould with the mixture.
The mould must be heated in a suitable furnace for making hard.
Upon the hard mould, layer of warmed beewax about ½ cm is to be applied and sculpture work must be followed by Manuel labour.
If the moulding is big iron bars must be penetrated through it.
Another layer of clay must be coated on the sculptured beewax.
Make a hole at the bottom of the mould and heat it again.
Then the beewax will melt forming a cavity between two layers of clay.
Then, mixture of penta metallic alloy namely, lead, silver, bress, copper and zinc prepared according tothe specific ratio and liquid metal alloy is poured into the hollow at the bottom of the mould.
If yoiu need to make the gigure yellowish, add more brass to the alloy and if you wish to have reddish coloured fighre, make sure to add more copper.
According to our Myanmar tradition, auspicious day is choored according to Myanmar calander when pouring the alloy.
After cooling, let the outer and inner part of the clays to crack.
When the cracked clays are removed we can get the alloy figure and last stage is to make fine sculpture and polishing.

The marble carving workshops can be found in Yangon, Mandalay and other towns in the country, but majority are located in Mandalay. The quarries of Sagin near Mandalay produce plenty of excellent marbles. Especially in the space enclosed near the outer walls of Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay, one can find the marble carving craftsmen's quarter.

Not only Buddha Images in all positions, but also images related to 550 Buddhist birth-stories, Buddha's footprints and other images were carved depending upon the orders.

The first stages are usually hewn out by the apprentices, where the second stages would be done by the more experienced craftsmen. The final cutting is done by the master himself, where the carved stone looks as if made of silk. One can watch as craftsmen, using the same skills and methods as their forefathers.

West of Mahamuni, wood carvers can be found who create more Buddha, as well as alters for worship in home and pagoda. Many ancient monasteries are made of teak and beautifully carved.

LOTUS ROBE WEAVING

Lotus Robe (Padoma Kyathingan) weaving is one of the handicrafts of Kyaingkhan village, located in Inya village.-tract of Inle Lake. It is from June to November, that Lotus Robes should be woven because during these months lotus flowers are in full bloom.

There are four steps in the process of weaving a Louts Robe form the threads or fibers received from lotus plants. Firstly, for gathering dark pink lotus plants grown in Inle Lake where 120,000 stems are needed. Secondly, taking the threads or fibers out of the stems. The fibers must be used within three days after the stems are pulled form the Lake. The third step is to lay the fibers gently on a wet table surface and with a quick turn of a wrist, the fibers are rolled into a thicker thread. The next batch is twisted onto the end of previous one so that bit by bit the thread grows. The yarn which is collected must be washed, starched and spun before it can be woven. Finally, weaving robe from the strong heads or strips on the loom. The natural colour of the lotus thread is light brown and need to dye yellow colour and after the completion of weaving, the Lotus Robe for monk is tailored in accord with the Vinaya rules.

It is not sure that the Lotus robe can be brought at any time you want. Placing on advance order will enable you to rest assured.

The weaving industry at Kyaingkhan village is not only producing Lotus Robes but they are also manufacturing towels and shawls woven from Padonma Lotus threads, coloured with natural dye. Also another type of towels woven with lotus and silk fibers can be available.

^^ 
Top

MANUFACTURE OF GOLD LEAF

The manufacture of gold leaf is one of the notable ancient crafts, which continue to be going on working even today. The gold leaf is produced in many houses in the southeast section of Mandalay. Small bits of 24 carat gold is placed between thin sheets of bamboo paper about 2.5 inches square and the whole stack is wrapped in tow pieces of deer shin to hold it firmly. The packet is placed on a stone and beaten by young men with a hammer weighing 15 pounds for 15 minutes. No women are allowed to enter into the work room and no shoes or shippers are worn inside the room. It is believe that, women presence and wearing shoes/shippers will prevent perfect tissues from forming.

After the first beating the stack of papers are handed over to the girls working separately in nearby room. The girls sitting around a low table separates the gold from the paper and cut them into six pieces with horn cutters. Each piece is placed between bamboo papers and once again handed over to the boys for another 2½ hours pounding.
Then yet again the thin pieces are placed in 5 inches-square of specially made bamboo paper and finally pounded for five hours. At last, the girls cut the fragile gold leaf into neat squares and transfer them between squares of ordinary cardboard papers to be sold in packets. The devotees buy these gold leaf packets for gilding the pagoda and the images.

^^ 
Top

PUPPET(YOKETHE`)

Puppet shows usually take place at pagoda festival, which are like country fair. A single puppeteer operator with minimum 28 puppets doll figures, some with as many as 60 strings for different dances, where most require but 20 strings. The performance begins at about 9pm and end at dawn the next day.

According to traditional Buddhist belief, each organism consists of 28 physical parts. To agree with this teaching, during the reign of Myanmar kings, it was directed that there be exactly 28 dolls. All of them 2½ to 3 feet high, faultlessly carved and with costumes identical to the originals prescribed.

The previously mentioned puppets include hermit, king, two older prices, four ministers, prince, princess, Brahman astrologer, old woman, two clowns, king of the Celestials, alchemist with magical power, ogre, giant bird, serpent, horse, monkey, tiger, elephant and etc...

The two principle figures are a price and princess around whom the romantic plot always revolves. Most of the stage performances are morality tales and historical plays.

SILK WEAVING

The brilliant silk longyis that you can see Myanmar men and women wearing, come mainly from Mandalay and its suburb Amarapura. There are two of silk, the thick weave with wavy patterns, made with hundred or more shuttles called "Lun Tayar", usually worm by women in grand ceremonial occasions and the thin ones in plain colours or in design with Myanmar motifs for women and with strips and square patterns for men.

For centuries, Myanmar has woven some of the highest quality silk garments. The "Lun Tayar" weave is considered better-suited to formal wear and more unique and is therefore more expensive. The shuttle does not fly through the weft while weaving but each shuttle with different colour of silk is carefully threaded through the weft in set patterns. To work on a width about 1.25 yards, three girls have to sit in a row at the loom, checking that the pattern they are creating is correct with small mirrors held underneath the fabric. One 2 yard-long piece takes three girls about two months to complete, depending upon the design. The designs are kept highly secret and to protect against the precious material free of dust, the fabric on the loom is covered with thick white cotton sheets.
Also in Inle Lake in Southern Shan State, there are weaving industries spinning silk into fine yarn for weaving thin garments called Zinmae for women. Plain silk pieces and scarves are also woven and Zinmae is another kind of traditional silk costume with attractive designs, much valued by women and for the foreign visitor worth to buy.

  ^^
Top