subject: Silver Jewel Artisans: Masters Behind Real Work Of Art [print this page] The Miao silver jewels are known worldwide for their quality and variety. However, the artisans behind them are not as famous.
While usually Miao women wear the jewelry, it's men who actually make them.
For over 1000 years, this tradition is strictly followed.
The Miao artisans live in some of the areas in southern China, where modern civilization is yet to reach. Some of the Miao artisans never leave their town in their entire life, but their jewelry pieces are something the rest of the world craze for.
Usually, a Miao silversmith learn his making techniques from his father. And the craftsmanship is strictly kept within the family.
As the craftsmanship requires, the silversmith crafts his products all by hand from beginning to end.
A piece of Miao jewelry usually have hundreds of details, so the artisan may have to spend days working on it.
The work is truly challenging. For example, the silver threads the Miao use to create flower petals are sometimes as thin as human hairs. Working on such details for long hours could harm the eyesight. So don't feel surprised that at a young age he would have to wear reading glasses.
Usually there are up to 30 steps before a Miao artisan could finish up the making work. Each of the steps requires precision as well as patience. And it could take as many as 15 years for him to master the skills.
When a batch of new products are made, our Miao silversmiths would have to travel from village to village and cry his products for sale.
If you were lucky enough to ever go to a Miao festival, you should have been fancied by the staggering sets of jewelry pieces the Miao women wear.
But don't take the jewels for granted, and don't forget the extreme care and hard work the Miao silver jewel artisans put into them.
