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By
: Jon Bugge & Suy Se, Picture by : Jon Bugge.
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Silver
has for centuries been a valued commodity,
its value only being matched by the level
of artisanship necessary to craft items from
a material so precious. Khmer silver has a
long history as one of the most luxurious
materials, with firm place in Cambodian culture.
The silversmith art form reached its height
during the 11th century: when primarily Royalty
and the upper class used the crafted objects
for ceremonial purposes, funerary and religious
rituals. Ornate filigree work became their
trademark area of expertise and it is one
that continues right up until the present
day. Their intricate designs echo the friezes
and carvings at the Angkorian temples in Cambodia.
Craftsmen produce all kinds of silver objects
ranging from silver boxes, images of the Buddha
to funerary jars, chopsticks, cutlery and
jewellery.
In a more modern Cambodia, in a typical shop
house, about a hundred metres north west of
the Central Market, the owner hoped that he
could make a living by selling silver jewellery. |
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Betel Nut boxes await
packing, to be sent to their new homes.
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Mr. Kateur
Yano, the owner of Rachana Souvenir shop, was sitting
on a chair surrounded by glass cabinets, putting
away silver jewellery, when he spoke of the future
with a smile: "I am hopeful that it will be
good in the future," he said.
The view of the front of his house is evidence of
how busy the shop is. There were scores of drivers
all arriving with orders or deliveries, all wanting
attention or payment.
Mr.Kateur Yano is only a seller of silver, not a
smith himself, occasionally he will put his hand
to certain pieces to continue the skills he has
acquired. He understands the process and the work,
but now no longer actually gets so involved. In
1980, a year after the Pol Pot regime was driven
from power; he first went around from house to house
to buy broken silver jewellery, to melt it down
and make new pieces of jewellery.
Mr. Yano remembers the time: " I did not do
them by myself. I just ordered them from the other
silversmiths. I sometimes help them when they don't
know how to design what I have ordered."
Today, he imports the silver from abroad. Usually
it has been already melted and ground. They then
take the required amount of silver and create the
piece that has been ordered.
"We import the materials and sell the ones
that have been designed already," he said.
" We design for both domestic and foreign clients." |
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Mr.
Yano continued talking about business: "I
hope to be able to open more shops in different
provinces. Today a lot of my relatives also
do this job in the province of Siem Reap,
as well as Phnom Penh."
" I will not change this job because
it is my real skill of silver," he said.
" It is not difficult for someone who
has the skill of doing it."
He attracts a wide range of customers, as
he puts it: "My clients are foreigners
and local people. The most local clients are
high ranking officials and nobilities,"
he said.
Whilst Mr. Yano finds it an easy lifestyle
and one that he will not give up, for many
others in the trade, it is more frustrating.
Since Angkorian times an important silversmith
area has been Kompong Loung, just south of
Oudong. This area was the royal port of Oudong
- the Cambodian capital between 17th and 19th
centuries - and as such served important role
in trade in the area. These skilled artisans
still live in the same area, practising art
forms unchanged since then. It was back in
January 1999, that the Cambodian silversmith
community gained some sort of organisation.
They established themselves, having attended
many workshops and seminars, as the Khmer
Silversmith Association. The Khmer Silversmith
Association now has 130 members and is a part
of the Cambodian Craft Cooperation.
It is in Kompong Luong that the majority of
the members can be found. Carrying on a centuries
old tradition, whilst using relatively unchanged
equipment. In this village, nestled on the
banks of the Tonle Sap, like so many others,
there is constant activity. Almost every house
has its own production line. Usually there
is a furnace beneath the house and people
busy on the verandas polishing and packing.
For centuries they have produced the high
quality silver work, including intricate silver
bowls in the shape of fruit, elephants, deer,
wild pigs, fish and goats, to name but a few
of the timeless designs. Nowadays a lot of
the orders, which they receive, come in from
Thailand. Whilst this is good for business,
it is always very similar things that are
ordered. One silversmith spoke of how this
was stifling their creativity and meant nothing
new was being tried. He wished not to have
his name mentioned but added that they had
to try different things: "we must try
new ones, we must adapt to survive."
Whilst traditionally the craft has been handed
down through the generations, they too are
aware of contemporary temptations. Pheap has
been a silversmith, in Kompong Luong, since
his father taught him: "I was about eight
when I first began to learn. I hope that my
son will carry on the family work." However
he has his doubts and realizes it is likely
his son, Sophat, will be drawn to the bright
lights of Phnom Penh, rather than the labour
intensive and delicate work, which his kin
have practised for generations.
With mechanisation closing in around them,
the future of these craftsmen is unclear.
It is hoped that, by their sheer skill and
style, they will be able to survive and their
silver will grace the homes of people around
the world. |
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An example of the high
quality Cambodian craftsmanship.
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The moulds must be hammered
clean.
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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