About Thai Karen Hill Tribe and their Silver Jewelry

Over 100 years ago, nomadic hill tribes migrated south from China into the region of southeast Asia where Burma, Laos, and Thailand find a common point.

The Karen Hill Tribe, called "Kariang" or "Yang" in Thai language, is by far the largest hill tribe in Thailand. Skilled as farmers, the Karen people often live in bamboo houses built on stilts. They practice crop rotation and use elephants to clear the land.

In the early 1960's, their Majesties, the present King Rama IX, and Queen Sirikit, undertook to help the Karen people develop an alternative to growing their traditional cash crop - opium. As part of a royal project, silver experts were dispatched to impart their knowledge of jewelry to the farmers of the Karen Hill Tribe.

The first generation of Karen silversmiths was taught to carefully handcraft each design from scratch, using high-content silver (usually 97 + %). They learned to give each design a unique appearance only seen in their own creations. From Karen mother and father to Karen son and daughter, they have passed down their silver work skills and traditions.

Today, each handmade ornament is a unique masterpiece that represents centuries of Karen culture and art. Often, the jewelry is engraved with plant, animal, or geometric designs, symbolizing their direct connection to their land and water.

Choosing Karen silver work is much more than buying jewelry of rare distinction!!