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. . . continued from page 1
The people in many of the tribes have learned that collectors in the outside world are tremendously interested in their crafts. They have had success in making basketry, musical instruments, jewelry, tools, utensils, weapons, traps, and clothing for sale to townspeople.
We eventually are allowed to visit the shop where the men are making silver jewelry. Traditionally, silver jewelry has been kept as a store of wealth as well as a means of beautification. Silver jewelry, proudly worn, adds to their financial security, as well as their status. It also helps to attract potential suitors to young women and it adds color and excitement to many rather routine lives.
Watching how the jewelry is made took me back to my first silversmithing class many years ago. Silver ingots are flattened by pounding with hammers. The resulting sheet is cut with jewelers� saws, inch-by-inch, and wire is repeatedly pulled through ancient draw dies. Repouss� work is accomplished by hammering thin silver sheets into black tar molds. The silver they use is soft; they use a .999 pure silver, not the .925 sterling to which we are accustomed. The jewelry they create, with such tremendous effort, has enormous consequence to them; not just as objects of value but also as items of classic beauty and symbolic significance. The pieces go together surprisingly fast, but on inspection we notice that there are no two pieces that are exactly alike; each has its unique, handmade characteristics.
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Village silversmith creating adornments using basic silversmithing techniques. |
The guide tells us that the people do not totally trust paper money. They prefer silver coins, jewelry, silver ingots, and silver pipes and boxes, because they feel that these items always retain their value.
As darkness falls, we get invited to join a three-family group for an evening meal. The women have prepared a supper of rice, herbs and roots from the jungle, plus some kind of meat, that the guide can�t (or won�t) explain. After they have cleaned up after the meal, the woman cluster in a circle squatting and talking endlessly. The men sit around their fire and tell stories as they smoke their pipes and drink large quantities of hot tea.
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The guide says the stories retell epic feats of great heroes and serve to keep their legends alive. This is also how their culture is passed to the children. The night sky at this high altitude is breathtaking; you can almost reach out and grab a star.
We awaken to the sounds of cows mooing, roosters crowing, pigs and children squealing and the rhythmical sound of the rice-pounder as the women pound the paddy (unhusked rice). Breakfast is a repeat of supper; we still don�t know what we�re eating.
Back in the pickup, we dart around children bringing fresh water from a nearby stream and head back to Chiang Mai. You know, that tooth filling really is coming loose!
We had prepared our initial bead order and presented it to the broker. Later, she came to us in tears. "You have no idea," she said, "of all the good you have done for these people."
With Num translating, she explained that the elders of the villages feared that they were losing their tribal cultures. There was not enough work in the villages to keep the young people from drifting into the towns, looking for city-work. With this order they could train many of them in their silversmithing traditions. With a steady flow of work, they hope to reverse the city trend and continue their tribal culture. |
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Father and Son. |
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Chris promised, �We�ll do our very best!" She then gave me a big hug and said, �You know? This it what we do; this is what it�s all about!" I said, "Yep!� |
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