Abstract:
The purpose of this research on silver handicrafts was to study the history of silverwares. Silversmiths, production processes including forms
And designs of the silverwares from the past of the present, a transfer of
Craftmanship, belifes about amulets and marketing of silverwares at present.
The research was carried out by means of collecting data through interviews, surveys and photographs showing step of production process of silverwares.
The research finding showed that silverwares have been existing in Surin since the ancestral time. The art was handed down generation to generation. At present, the most famous silversmiths in Surin are
Mr. Sawas and Mr. Charng of the Mutasopa family, Mr. Chian and Mr.
Plon of the Prachon-Kla family and Mr. Puan Chio-thong. Their ancestors were skilled goldsmiths. Later on when the gold prices rose, they switched to making silverwares, the craftsmanship of this kind had been carried on up to now.
About the production processes of silverwares, the silversmiths began their processes with melting silver pellets than poured the melted silver into the
Prepared mould and left it to get cool. After that they removed it from the mould. Next they hammered to spread a silver rod into a thin sheet and cut it off according to the size they wanted. After that they gently hammered a price of that silver sheet into the shape as designed and applied a binding medium on each end then heated it on the flame so the two ends would hold together into the tubular form. After that the silversmiths attached pieces of small silver thread to each rim of the silverware and again applied a binding medium (Borax) on them than heated them on fire so that the silver threads would hold to the silverware rims when they got cool. Next the silversmiths melted a rosin and filled it into that tubular silverware and carved it into different designs. After that the rosin (Dammar) was removed. The silverwares were ground, polished, enamelled or smoked. In modern production processes, the silverwares might be dyed with a hair dying liquid.
The silversmiths popularly made ear-pendants (locally called Ta-Kao or Kra-chorn) that came in four styles; namely, Paka-Rang-Chork (water-lettuce design), Paka-Ka-Chio (Ka-chio flower design), Paka-Tang-Oy (Sugar joint design), Paka-Dok-Bua-Barn (blooming lotus design). They also made silver beads with delicate designs carved on them and strung them into a necklace, a bracelet, a wrist bangle, an ankel bankel and a silver sash. At present, the silversmiths have made the diverse silverwares such as silver rings, silver buttons, silver hairpins and so on.
For designs created and carved on the silverwares, the silversmiths generally imitated the nature, that is, they on their silverwares usually caved lotus designs, giant water-bugs neck design, plumkin design, straight line design. Fishnet design, grasshoppers eye design, star-fruit design, rattan-ball designs (Takroh design), pikoon flower designs (mimosops elengi flower design), water-lettuce designs, diamond designs, traditional Thai design, fish design, elephant designs or any other designs as ordered.
Regarding the transfer of craftsmanship, this craft was handed down from a father to a son or any member of the family or to the real interested persons. No tuition fees charged from learners. The learners began their learning of the art by working as an apprentice silversmith with the expert ones for a period of 5-6 years. When they thought that had learned much enough about the craft, they would leave their instructors in order to start a silverware making business as a cottage craftsmanship on their own.
Regarding beliefs in superstition and amulets, some people paid the silversmiths to make for them a silverware in a particular form then brought it to be ensacreded by lay shaman or a famous Buddhist monk who was believed to have a powerful spiritual power. They believed that the ensacreded amulets had a supernatural power and could protect the bearers from dangers or make them invulnerable to all kind of sharp-edged or pointed weapons. However, at present, those who still believe so are few. The silversmiths performed a yearly ritual cermony, giving offerings to their tools (tool spirits) they used for practising their career because they believed that doing so could help them have some clear ideas to create and design beautiful work. Above all, it could help make their business prosperous as well.