Myanmar Art and Craft
Ten Flowers of Myanmar

There are 10 Myanmar traditional arts, which are metaphorically called "Ten Flowers"

• Panbe (the art of blacksmith)
• Panbu (the art of sculpture)
• Pantain (the art of gold and silversmith)
• Pantin (the art of bronze casting)
• Pantaut (the art of making floral designs using masonry)
• Panyan (the art of bricklaying and masonry)
• Pantamault (the art of sculpting with stone)
• Panpoot (the art of turning designs on the lathe)
• Panchi (the art of painting)
• Panyun (the art of making lacquerware)

Myanmar Painting
Myanmar painting organized in the prehistoric time is proved by the discovery of pictures on the walls of Padalin Caves at Ywangan in Southern Shan State. They were executed by cave dwellers of Neolithic Age, depicting four legged animals, fish skeleton, motifs of sun, stars and human hand with open palm. Bagan is the only place where several old paintings can be found in various degrees of preservation. Myanmar traditional painting is one of Myanmar decorative arts. It is a linear painting-lines of the different sizes and designs, thick, straight, carve, wavy, dotted lines are used to give expression, meaning and life to the object and figures painted. There is no perspective in Myanmar traditional painting. Most paintings are in series because they mostly depict Jatakas {Buddha's Birth stories} or legends of the temples or historical episodes.

Brass
The triangular brass gong is one of Myanmar’s traditional musical instruments that mean urging people to get involved in religious affairs. Another musical instrument made of brass, is the bell. Furthermore, Buddha Statues are widely made of brass. In Myanmar, the method of making materials made of brass is quite interesting. Normally, brass is heated and put into a mould. Before casting, a proportion sand, mud and bran are mixed according to the ratio and the mould is drafted and then, the drafted mould is stuck with soil and applied with a mixture of coal powder and horse’s excreta. On the surface, wax is stuck in detail to get a required shape. The mixture of mud, sand and bran is then stuck on the layer to avoid the dripping of brass liquid inside. While, sticking the mixture, two holes; one for throwing brass liquid inside and another one for the emission of gas is prepared. In the next step, the whole mould is burnt and waxes inside the mould melt and flow out via the exit hole. At the same time, the brass liquid is poured into the mould and replaces the outgoing wax’s place. The mould is, then, chilled out and the outer layer is uncovered. After that, the draft mould is cast with bolt, file and sandpaper to get required shape. Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc with a ratio of 54.1% and 45.9%. The main ingredient, copper had been in existence in Myanmar for many years, but used for normal accessories, not big ones. Another alloy acquired by mixing copper and iron is bronze and it has been used since many years ago.

Tapestries
Along with lacquer ware, tapestries are one of the better bargains in Myanmar. They consist of pieces of colored cloth of various sizes heavily embroidered with silver or gold-colored thread, metal sequins and glass beads, and feature mythological Burmese figures in padded relief. The greatest variety is found in Mandalay, where most tapestries are produced, but mark – up can be high there because of a tout system. Good quality kalagas are tightly woven and don’t skimp on sequins, which may be sewn in overlapping lines, rather than spaced side by side, as a sign of embroidery skill. Metals used should shine, even in older pieces; tarnishing means lower quality materials. Age is not necessarily a factor in value except when related to better quality work.

Lacquer ware
The most popular purchase in Myanmar is lacquer ware. The earliest lacquer ware found in 11th century and was created in the Chinese style, the incised polychrome techniques, known as yun. Lacquer as used in Myanmar comes from the Melanorrhea usitata or kusum tree (which comes from an insect), basic form is mixed with paddy-husk ash to form a light, flexible, waterproof coating over bamboo frames. To make a lacquer ware object, the craftsperson first weaves a frame. If the item is top quality, only the frame is bamboo; horse or donkey hairs will be wound round the frame. In lower-quality lacquer ware the whole object is made from bamboo. The lacquer is then coated over the framework and allowed to dry. After several days it is sanded down with ash from rice husks, and another coating of lacquer is applied. A high-quality item may have seven layers of lacquer altogether. The lacquer ware is engraved and painted, then polished to remove the paint from everywhere except in the engravings. Multicolored lacquer ware is produced repeated engraving, painting and polishing. From start to finish it can take five or six months to produce a high-quality piece of lacquer ware, which may have as many as five colors. Flexibility is one characteristic of good lacquer ware. A top-quality bowl can have its rim squeezed together until the sides meet without suffering damage. The quality and precision of the engraving is another thing to look for. Lacquer ware is made into bowls, trays, plates, boxes, containers, cups, vases and many other everyday items. Octagonal folding tables and folding screens are also popular lacquer ware items.

****We would like to say that we are very proud of our own cultures and traditions so that a special programs for "Study to Traditional Arts of Myanmar sectors was born with very attractive Itineraries and destinations. ****

Please check here our classical arts and other skilful hand working

• Ten Flowers
• The Art of Weaving
• The Art of Making Pottery