DUE to the shortage of raw ma­terials and the advancement of technology, there are fewer ar­tisans in turnery craft, said the Chairman of the Myanmar Tra­ditional Artisans Association, U Thit Lwin Soe.

It is one of the 10 traditional crafts of Myanmar - blacksmith­ing, sculpture, goldsmithing, bronze casting, stucco work, ma­sonry, stone sculpting, turning, painting and lacquerware. Turn­ery is a craft to make wooden utensils and beautiful things. It can also be used in final polishing of sculptured products to make them smooth and shiny.

In recent times, turnery art has been replaced by machinery due to the advancement of mod­ern technology.

“There’s a worrying trend right now that turnery industry is losing its grip among ten tra­ditional crafts. And there aren’t many operators. As they are being replaced by machines, the previously famous turnery craft has disappeared and not much of artisan generation is left. Typically, there are only au­tomated businesses. Among the ten traditional crafts, the most endangered to be extinct is turn­ery,” he said.

Only a small number of turn­ery businesses are reportedly still workng in rural areas.

“It depends on the relevancy of traditional crafts handed down as well as the availability of raw materials. In turnery craft, teak is usually used. It is quite difficult to sculpt teak wood. Without a timber permit, this work might be illegal,” he continued. — Htet Oo Maung/ZN