On my first travel to Laos, I heard through parts of the trip the tink, tink tink of metal. I didn’t think much of it till I was in Luang Prabang. Through a gateway was a group of men pounding on anvils and pieces of wood. It wasn’t a heavy work of a blacksmith, but the fine detailed shaping of metal by the local silversmiths.
The Lao have worked silver since the fist settlers of the region. Tribal groups used canoe shaped pieces and balls for trade. Dowry jewelry was used by all tribal groups, each in their own unique forms. And the Royal Family had their own guild of silversmiths making everything from jewelry to kitchenware and ceremonial items. You still see the importance to the culture, most family savings is put into jewelry because it’s safer than the Lao currency the Kip, and there isn’t a lot of trust in the banks there.
I have since spent a lot of time in the company of silversmiths. The tinking sound is now familiar. I am still amazed at what they can do with the tools they have. A blowtorch and some hand tools can create many wonderful things. Early on I took some pieces to a few jewelers here in the US. They weren’t sure how the pieces could be made the way I described, and they appreciated the knowledge it took to create some of the intricate silver chains and cuffs.
In the old days the highest level of skill was found in Luang Prabang as part of the Kings guild. It was service to the King that was passed down from generation to generation. After the war, most of the most talented left for the South to protect their families. There are still a few groups in Luang Prabang that have an older person or two who worked for the King, but it’s getting rare to find these days. Most of the work is now done in Vientiane.
There are great differences between the Northern ethnic group’s style of jewelry and the lowland or Lao Loum group that make up 60% of the Lao population. Tribal groups each have their own style and symbology. Most pieces are made in the fire with simple patterns etched in. There is a definite primitive feel to these pieces, and considering that they were made in the fire makes their skill even more impressive.
The Lao Loum was the group that would be considered the more “sophisticated” people in the region. They developed the cities, were Royalty and monks, and ran the business of Laos for most of its years. They also developed the tools for more refined jewelry. These are the pieces that are on the Orijyn site.
We are trying to help preserve this handcraft. There are only a few who know how to make some of the more complex items. The family system of teaching is dissipating and the market is changing to support the cheaper, simple modern designs. We hope that in some way, we can help preserve this skill by producing enough revenue for the finer craft to entice young people to learn the trade and traditional designs. Help us keep the tink, tink, tink alive.
