In September last year I met Phaitoon Sakulson who was selling beautiful glass rings in the weekend market. I bought 10 of them to test them out, and they sold immediately after my return. In January of this year, I visited his family home. His wife is the designer and they have the kiln at their home. I selected 100 rings in various sizes and each of them is a glorious piece of art. The artist has perfected a unique technique for her wonderful designs that the Chinese have thus far been unable to copy, though they have tried.
I am so impressed by the intrinsic beauty of her work, and I think you will feel the same.
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Hello from the Thai/Lao border
I want to take you on a brief visit to Kiew Karn village in northern Thailand, a traditional hill tribe village that I had the good luck to spend time at and which is home to about 1500 people from the Hmong and Lahu tribes. Asian Oasis has created a wonderful lodge in the village that is part of an effort to support community-based tourism. In other words, this lodge is not only built in the local style, but is entirely staffed by villagers. Moreover, guests lucky enough to stay here are taken on various outings by the villagers, including a visit to village homes, a drop in at the village shaman, a chance to join a tree planting project, or to trek in the hills, or even to try their hands at local crafts, to say nothing of sunbathing by the Mekong River. If you were looking for some way to get to the heart of Thailand, this is the closest you might come. The lodge is high on a hill overlooking the Mekong River valley, and Laos is just a stone’s throw away. Once you arrive here, you don’t need money. All meals are provided (traditional Thai, and European at breakfast). Each of the four villas has four (very comfortable) rooms and a communal living/dining room. I could go on and on…but instead, just take a look at the photos I have attached. They include photos of the lodge, the village, villagers, dancers, the village shaman, and of course, me planting a tree…. I got in last night from an amazing ten days in Burma.
I delivered your donations, including the ‘new’ embosser, parts to repair the old one, teaching materials, a voltage regulator, Braille embossing paper, and T shirts for all 110 kids at the School for the Blind in Rangoon on Jan. 18. I bought plain white T shirts in Rangoon and had them printed with THANK YOU in English and Burmese, as I felt this would benefit more people than buying pre-made T shirts. When my friend Nyan and I arrived, the Headmaster had the kids line up, and then announced that I had come again with donations, and that each of them would get a gift. They were thrilled. I went down the line, giving each one their T shirt, after which they all walked out to the front of the school for a group picture, all helping each other. The whole thing was really quite touching. The photos are pretty self-explanatory. I even have one of the T shirts be printed, as well as a picture a dorm room. Thanks again for your help! Rich Lacquerware is the most distinctive and traditional of Burmese handicrafts. Traditionally it was used by royalty for storing documents and jewelry, and more commonly for keeping betel nuts and food. This craft dates back to the 13th century. Today, one can find a wide variety of lacquer items in Burma, from trays to storage chests, bowls, tables and even chairs. Considering the time it takes to produce even the smallest piece (at least 5 to 7 months), lacquer is still quite inexpensive.
How it is madeBasically, items are shaped using coiled or woven Bamboo or carved wood, and then they are lacquered using the sap of a particular tree that flourishes in Burma. For objects of particular high quality, fine horsehair is used. To prevent cracking, some makers include cloth. After the shape is made, the first coat of lacquer is applied by hand. It is then dried for a week in underground cellars (drying in the sun causes pockmarks). A second coating is applied; once again the object is dried for another week. The next stage involves using powdered buffalo bone, teak sawdust and lacquer to fill up crevices. The object is then polished to remove rough spots, and then it is lacquered and dried again. After another week, it is polished again using clay and stone. It is polished three more times and then stored underground for one month. After this it is polished again. This is followed by a long process of lacquering and drying over a period of about seven weeks. After this, the designs will be etched in color by color using fine etching tools and acacia glue. After each color is applied, the object is dried for a week. Once all the designing is done and all colors have been applied, it is dried for one month and then for 10 minutes in the sun. It is polished and its insides may be painted once more with red lacquer. After one week of drying, the object is finished! The finest pieces take up to one year to complete using this painstakingly slow process. But the results are spectacular!! Care of Your Lacquer PieceYou can wash with water and mild soaps. Please do not put the item in dishwater and do not use abrasive soap. To lessen the chance of cracks and deterioration, please do not place it in direct sunlight. Avoid extremes in temperatures, particularly in colder climates. Extreme heat or cold can cause fine cracks to appear. |
About meAn inveterate traveler, I have spent a great deal of time searching for new arts and artisans, mostly in Asia. I am drawn to Asia thanks to my 25-year tenure living in Japan. During that period I traveled extensively and often in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to the US, I formed Arts of Asia in order to share the qualities I admire in Asia with my friends and customers in the US. To support this mission, I continue to spend 4 months a year abroad. The search is never ending! Archives
February 2023
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