Of the ten traditional Arts of making items in gold or silver it is one of the prominent arts of the ten traditional Myanmar arts and crafts. The art of goldsmith and silversmith are the most practiced of the ten. Silversmith made in Sagaing Region, Central Myanmar is not only popular but are beautiful made.
So, let’s look at how silverware is made. First, raw pure silver has to be mixed with 5% of copper then pass through the crusher to turn it into a thin plate of silver.
The reason for adding copper to silver is that, though pure silver is harder than gold, it is still soft to make into silverware. Then, after we grind the mixed thin plates of silver, we later cut the required size we need and then use a mould for the shape of the silverware we are going to make.

In making silverware, silver is melted down till we have the shape that is needed. Some silverware has to be welded to join parts of the body, to become a whole finished product.For embossing on the silverware, you have to use a pencil to draw a required sketch on the silverware and then use a punch to punch in the designs on the silverware.
Then, the silverware has to be cleared with a liquid made of roasted soap acacia and later Kyauk Padee is used to polish it.
You will see Jataka stories depicting the lives of Lord Buddha decorated on the sides of the bowls by the silversmiths.
And on this bowl, you will see depicted, are the birth of the lord Buddha, his retiring into the jungle as a recluse, and the Buddha when he entered monkshood.
The life-like embossed pictures on the bowl depicting the scene of ThuwanaThama are very intricate works of art.
And in the next bowl, you will find the princess DweMe`Naw taking a bath with her maidens which is also artistically done.
And you will find other artistically embossed pictures depicting other interesting scenes on the bowls.

The art of silverware making have been handed down from generation to generation. We send our silverwares to Mandalay and Yangon city, and also to markets abroad. Some of our customers like their bowls plain and some prefer floral designs while some embossed in lace-like designs.

Narration

The craft of silversmith and silverware is one of the Myanma handicrafts, being a professional art, is very wide in scope. Small detailed articles are used in architecture, thus this craft is very interesting and intricate in nature.