Lao silver - Bring beauty into your life while helping a culture retain its traditions
Orijyn brings you unique jewelry from the same master craftsmen who produced jewelry for the Royal family. This is the first time these pieces are available in the West.
The main motif used in these pieces was initially reserved for the Royal Court and is a stylized representation of the Dok Phikoun flower, indigenous to the region. Local monks have for centuries taught of the Dok Phikoun’s powers of good fortune and promotion of a long and happy life.
About the silver
The silver used for the bangles and cuffs is sterling grade, 92.5%, with the intricate work on the cuffs crafted of a higher grade (96-98%). Necklaces, bracelets and chains also are of the higher-grade silver, which follows the traditional grade used for centuries by the indigenous tribes and these master craftsmen.
Explore the tradition
The heartland of Laos in Southeast Asia has always been on the edges of civilization and viewed as an exotic culture by the hardy, early Western travelers and explorers. The Laotian people have a long tradition of silver-working with jewelry designs showing influences from Tibetan, Chinese and Indian cultures.
These territories experienced the most flourishing development of ornamentation in craftwork during the introduction of Buddhist sculpture going back to the 7th century. The outstanding forms of expression in the art of jewelry were thus linked to religious, ceremonial rites and Royal Dynasties contributing to the glorification of the figures and deities worshiped by the people.
For centuries, indigenous tribes have used silver as currency, dowry and a symbol of status. Even the modern Lao is motivated to keeping a certain amount of wealth in silver and gold. Pictured here is the old silver currency used by the people of Laos until this century. To this day, there are some hill tribes trading with silver bars and balls like this in the more remote areas of the country.
