Marble and Teak
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 26 Nov 2017 23:47
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Marble Yard and Teak
Carvers
 En route to U-Bein Bridge, Zaw our
taxi/truck driver stopped at one of the many marble
yards. Not a face mask in sight as we saw clouds of dust appear at
regular intervals. A couple of novices trotted out and we sat and watched the
comings and goings as Zaw described what we were looking at. Sagyin or Burmese
marble comes from the north and ranges in colour from pure white to bluish grey.
Men earn about five dollars a day while women take home about two.
 Marked and ready
for carving. In the 1990’s the workers lives were revolutionised with the
introduction of power tools. The government controls the industry, export tax is
ten per cent and most of what we saw will be on its way to China, Singapore,
Thailand and a little to Europe.
  Myanmar is prolific in producing
scripture readings on marble, we have seen so much of
it. This finished chap is heading to China, all
wrapped and ready to go.
  This chap is
waiting to have his features and hair done. Time to head to our next
stop. You don’t go more than a few minutes between stupas.
  It’s fun bumping along facing backwards – a really good way to
see what’s around.
  Our next stop was at one
of the hundreds of wood carving shops. An impressive
frontage.
   The black chap had just been finger-finished by a worker who
had massaged the paint into every nook and cranny. Once dry he will go to the
craftsman who will add fake gold leaf (from Japan or
Korea). I actually preferred the natural teak-look of the items we saw in the workshop.
  Inside the door so many
teak screens and a quarter size
elephant or two.
 Next, we went to watch
some ladies working on velvet. Hand stitching gold
thread, beads and sequins.
 Some exquisite pieces hanging on the wall.
  A
massive Aladdin's cave out back.
 Amber
jewellery.
   A
smorgasbord no matter where we looked.
  I got Bear to pose for perspective
and of course out came the trigger finger. I really
fell for this chap which took two workers a solid
month to produce and a price tag of three thousand five hundred dollars. What a
statement piece as you walk into a hall or corner of a lounge. Zaw told us that
he was made of tropic wood, very commonly used and cheaper than teak. Zaw, turns
out he has a BSc in Biology, a Diploma in English and has been a tour guide for
many years, but gave it all up to care for his sixty five year old mum with
dodgy knees to drive a taxi, told us a fascinating fact – anyone can plant and
grow teak but the government owns all the trees.........
   Back outside and there was a colossal piece about eight feet wide carved from the root
system of a tropic tree. Crocodile complete with cigar.
  Zaw moved a drying frame (glue is painted on the back of a finished
piece and stood outside to dry) for me to look at the front. A very traditional piece with elephants, peacocks and smiley
faces..
ALL IN ALL SUCH RAW
TALENT
INCREDIBLY SKILLED WORKMEN AND SO MANY OF
THEM |