There are 10 Myanmar traditional arts which are
metaphorically called “Ten Flowers”.
Wood Carving (Panbu)
The art of Sculptures made of wood which produces figures, floral designs
and the figures of human beings, animals produced by artisan can see in
Mandalay City.
Tapestry
Tapestries are decorations of one cloth on another, designs on velvet or
cotton cloth with glass beads and shining sequins stitched on jackets,
hats, handbags with colorful dancers, peacocks, elephants, mythical
animals of Myanmar Culture and famous Jataka stories are depicted on large
wall hangings, all are popular souvenirs for tourists.
Silversmith
In Myanmar, one of the famous traditional art and handicraft is the
Silversmith. All of this silversmith can see in Mandalay and especially in
Sagaing. Silverwares are usually adorned with figures from religious
stories and folklores and floral designs such as silver bowl, jar, kettle,
necklace, armlet and rings are the product of silversmith.
Gold Leaf
Since the time of Myanmar monarchs, Gold Leaf cottage industry has existed
and gold leaf is mostly used for offering to pagodas. In making gold leaf,
firstly refined pieces of gold are to be liquefied and turned them into
thin and flat gold sheet pieces and then put these into two layers of
bamboo paper like sandwiches filling. Second stage of pounding, totally
about 1hour, is completed when after coconut timer sink 9 times. The final
stage is moving gold foil into bigger size of bamboo paper and pounding
for about 5 hours or 90 sink of coconut timer, gold leaf making is
finished. The traditional way of gold leaf making is very interesting for
not only tourists but also Myanmar people.
Pottery
Pottery is the earliest craft fashioned from the hands of man. Pots were
used to store or cook food, burial urns, gold and jewelry, that were
usually buried in the ground for safe keeping. Potshards have been found
in ancient sites of Myanmar such as Beitahno, Sri Khestra (Thayekhittya)
and Tagaung which are the centres of Pyu civilization, Bagan and Mrauk U.
The main pottery places of Myanmar are Nwe Nyein Village near Kyauk Myaung
and much older but less prolific pottery work is at Twante town near
Yangon. Another well known pottery side is at Kyauk Taing Village on Inle
Lake. The fascinating fact of hand-made pottery is that pots are still
produced in more or less traditional methods.
Lacquer ware (Pan Yun)
Lacquer ware in Bagan, for the framework, bamboo, wood and hairs of
horsetails are used. It is painted with lacquer coat after coat and dried
in an underground cellar. With a fine iron stylus, designs are incised on
the surface of the objects and incised areas are filled with colors-red,
yellow, green and blue. This type of lacquer ware is decorative and
religious uses.
