Lao Xa Village’s family with seven generations involved in silver carving

BHG - Lao Xa Village in Sung La Commune, Dong Van District, is home to more than 100 Mong ethnic minority households. In the village, the family of Mong artisan Mua Se Sinh (72) has been famous for silver carving for seven generations. Jewellery made from silver is an important part of the cultural and spiritual life of the Mong people in Ha Giang Province. The locals believe that silver can chase away ghosts and avoid harmful winds and it is also a soul and custom to pay tribute to their ancestors.

Mua Se Sinh is the 5th generation silver carving artisan of the Mua family. He began his silver carving career when he was only 16. Every day, Sinh still diligently crafts silver jewellery; however, due to his old age and increasingly poor eyesight, he can no longer make products as much as before.

His family's silver carving craft has been preserved and passed down through many generations, so the silver carvers are all blood relatives.

In the past few years, he began passing down the craft to his children and grandsons. His grandson, Mua Tieu Bao (23 years old), has become a skilled craftsman after three years of learning diligently. Bao shared: “In the village, families mainly work in the fields. Therefore, silver carving has become a profession that has helped my family for many generations to gain a stable income. There is no reason for me to continue to develop the traditional craft”.

The toolset for silver carving includes a fire blower, kiln, pot, casting mould, hammer, iron pliers, tools with handles, and tools for chiselling and carving patterns.

The family buys raw materials at highland markets, mainly silver products that have been damaged for a long time. Silver is melted at high temperatures and then poured into moulds. After that, the artisans laminate and carve the silver products with patterns. The final step is the repair and polishing of the products.

The craftsmen must have a deep understanding of the properties of materials. A handmade silver product was made through many elaborate processing stages. With the support of equipment and machinery, time and efforts have been shortened while the products’ quality are still maintained.

Silver jewellery products in Lao Xa are diverse, such as rings, bracelets, anklets, and necklaces. The delicate and unique carvings and patterns demonstrate the concentration and meticulousness of the artisans.

Silver jewellery products in Lao Xa are diverse, such as rings, bracelets, anklets, and necklaces. The delicate and unique carvings and patterns demonstrate the concentration and meticulousness of the artisans.

Visitors are introduced to the products and the processes of silver carving. The silver bracelet in the photo was completed by the artisan in one week and cost 15 million VND.

Thanks to the silver's properties in protecting health, as well as its meaning and value in life, the number of orders has been increasing day by day. To serve customers’ needs, products can also be engraved with names or according to orders.

According to Mong people's traditional customs, silver jewellery is used during holidays or given to daughters as dowry on their marriage, so the silver carving craft in Lao Xa has been preserved until now.

PHOTO: HA AN