Although the beautiful temples scattering the plain are one of the most remarkable charms of Bagan, they are not the only. Besides them, lacquer ware is also another tourist attraction. You want to discover this attraction as well as make your own lacquer ware items, the interesting tour of Painting Lacquer ware in Bagan is surely for you
First, you will go to the oldest lacquer ware shop in Bagan, and once entering the workshop, you can enjoy every phase of production, from splitting the bamboo to etching designs beautifully performed. You will get a detailed understanding of how this ancient craft has developed into an art form thanks to the description in detail of each stage. You will begin the process with forming wares from bamboo which are then painted with lacquer, a varnish made from Thit-si, a sap harvested from the Melanorrhoea Usitata tree.
Depending on the quality desired, from 8 to 16 layers of lacquer will be applied and it can take a year to complete a high-end piece of lacquer ware. Before the last stage, which is where things get creative, the surface is polished after being dried!
One of the workshops craftsmen will sketch a traditional design on each coaster. You will also have a chance to complete your very own masterpiece with the paint and a brush provided. After that, the work will be set aside to dry, and collected later in the day or the following morning.