Lithe and elegant sterling silver braids carry interlocking rings that celebrate Thailand’s ancestral silversmith tradition. At first reserved for low-ranking officials and commoners, silver’s moonlight beauty soon became coveted by kings and queens - thus the argent metal was used in the elaboration of jewelry as well as utilitarian items. Silver is believed to bring good luck and this necklace, presented by Ploy Intha, makes for the ideal gift to commemorate a happy union. Silver and a small amount of copper are placed in a crucible, then covered with another crucible and this assembly is placed in the forge. When ready, some ground charcoal is blended into the molten alloy to prevent solid dross from forming when that mixture is poured out into a terracotta container. The silver obtained is beaten into the desired shapes with appropriate hammers and tools on an anvil. Two rings are soldered to a flexible string, braided out of long strands, and two additional pieces of the same string are soldered to the whole. Little half spheres are then soldered to the dangling strings. The necklace is washed into a tamarind solution before being dried and polished. Finally the artisan applies a secret mixture of his own to give the necklace a burnished finish.
Language: English
