Made in
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai was once a centre
of knowledge, architecture
and commerce, and attracted
settlers who brought with them
handicrafts like silverware,
umbrellas and woodcarvings
CRAFTY KINGDOM
Silverware-Making
Wualai’s beautiful silverware originates from
the time King Mangrai established Chiang Mai
in the 13th century as the capital of the Lanna
Kingdom. After negotiating with the city of
Bagan to bring Burmese craftsmen to Chiang
Mai to teach local townspeople the artistry
of silver-crafting, the city’s local silverware
industry was created and the skills have since
been carried down through the generations.
Almost every house had a small factory, and
people bought silver from Chinese merchants
in Chiang Mai’s downtown to forge silverware
for daily use and for sale: bowls, paddle
trays, and the like. Men moulded and forged
the silver, while women carved and sold the
finished pieces.
As trade with different areas progressed,
the raw material for silverware pieces grew
varied – from Burmese rupees to coins from
China’s autonomous region of Xishuangbanna
Dai. Today, silver accessories and decorations
are also popular, featuring prominently on the
roofs of temples like Wat Sri Suphan – also
known as the Silver Temple.
WHEN
9am–5pm daily
WHERE
Wualai Walking Street,
Wualai village
HOW
From Chiang Mai
International Airport, it’s a
15-minute taxi ride
EXPERIENCE
SILVERWARE-
MAKING
Text and Photos
Tourism Authority of Thailand
CHIANG MAI
Wualai