Burma Handicraft

Distinctive woodcarving is one of the traditional arts, crafts and handicraft of Burma.

The others are handicraft in gold, silver and iron; bronze, brass and copper casting; relief work in stucco; turnery; drawing and painting; lacquer ware; sculpting in stone or marble and lapidary work.

Traditional skills are carefully preserved in families and passed down from generation to generation to make sure the expertise in handicraft.

Carved wooden figures found in the stupas and shrines of the Bagan period, 1057-1287, suggest Burma carvers raised the standards of the woodcarving skills introduced from India in the 9th and 10th Century.

Traditional designs include the kanoke pan depicting intricate lotus buds, blossoms and stems; scrollwork with a floral arabesque; chu or stylized figures resembling lions with flowing manes; keinnaya and keinnayi, mythical male and female birds with human heads and torso; beloo or ogre; and galon or garuda, the mythical king of birds. Burma handicraft carved wooden figures and bas-relief works are usually found on the covered stairways or zaungdans of pagodas, in monasteries in highly embellished teak panels and in many religious buildings and residences. Even household furniture, fixtures and utensils are decorated with wood carvings.

Today there is a tremendous diversity in Burma handicraft.

There are Burma handicraft Buddha images, altars and other religious figures, nats or spirits; elephant, oxen, buffalo, tiger, bullock cart and peacocks as souvenirs for tourists; chinthes and other objects of Burma legends. Orders can be placed for almost any model, at very reasonable prices.
Burma Handicraft Mirror Frame Carved from Wood Rectangle Burma handicraft buddha images
Burma Handicraft buddhist painting Burma Handicraft Brass Sculpture

Wood is cheaper - in Burma- and softer than other materials but can be difficult to handle. Burma handicraft carvers carefully select wood with the right

Burma Handicraft lacquer plate with rectangle pattern
degree of hardness, grain and hue for each object. Burma carvers prefer to work with rosewood, ironwood, teak, tamalan (Dalbergia oliveri), hpaw (Adina cordifolia) and yamanay (Gmelina arborea).
Burma Handicraft Jade Bangles Burma Handicraft Jade Chain Burma Handicraft Jade Elephant

Burma handicraft, woodcarving, marionettes, gold, silver, iron, bronze, brass casting, copper casting, tapestry, relief, stucco, turnery, drawing, painting,
Burma Handicraft lacquer elephant Burma Handicraft lacquer table and plate Burma Handicraft lacquer ware items
lacquer ware; handicraft silver ware Burma burma sculpting, stone, marble, lapidary work, lacquer ware, tapestries, wood carving, sandal wood, textile, mother of pearl, tribal, paintings, silver ware, jade ware, antiques and reproduction, Ivory, pearls, marble carvings, gem painting, puppets, other souvenir items, souvenirs

handicraft artisans woodcarving Burma burma This group of smiling artisans is located close to the Shwedagon pagoda.

Traditional Burma handicraft skills are carefully preserved in families and passed down from generation to generation. Most of the artisans are simultaneously at home and at work in their residence. Further info e-books

all at e-books

Burma HANDICRAFT
HANDICRAFT FROM Burma BURMA