A Legacy Carried Through Centuries
"For over 700 years, the ancient city of Bagan has been the soul of Burmese lacquerware. From the spiritual offerings in pagodas to the tables of royalty, this revered craft, known as Yun De, has been an inseparable thread in the fabric of our culture. Using the sap of the Thitsi tree and techniques passed from parent to child, artisans create pieces that are built to last for generations."
The Hands That Bring Heritage to Life
U Tin Zaw Oo
MASTER OF PANN-YUNN & DESIGN
Translating complex Jataka stories and ancient folklore into miniature linework, he is guided by deep mnemonic knowledge. He works with precise freehand symmetry, his iron stylus cutting into the cured surface without the aid of stencils or preliminary sketches.
Beyond the studio walls, his extensive 50-plus years of experience in the lacquerware industry establishes him as a custodian of Bagan's heritage. When the opportunity arises, Master U Tin Zaw Oo participates in critical on-site conservation and pagoda restoration projects.
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Ko Phyo
Head of Production & Workshop MasterTo command the production of a Burmade artifact is to conduct a symphony of time, chemistry, and human precision. Ko Phyo is the central nervous system of the BAS workshop. As a true polymath who has spent over two decades mastering all eight critical stages of lacquer production—from the raw bamboo core to the final polish & Marks—he possesses an omniscient understanding of the craft.Traditional Yun-de cannot be rushed; it is dictated by the slow curing of Thitsi sap.
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Ko Kyaw
BAS Lacquer ArtistFor a design artist at Burmade Art Space, the challenge is not invention, but translation. Ko Kyaw approaches the ancient medium of Yun-de not as a relic to be preserved in amber, but as a living language capable of speaking to the contemporary world
He also canvas is the deep, jet-black surface of cured Yun-de. Without tracing or stencils, his mind and muscle memory navigate the vast mythologies of Southeast Asia, carving microscopic details that command the viewer to step closer.
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Ma KhingNanther Tun
DETAILING & LINE-FILLINGIn the traditional Yun-de process, the initial freehand engraving provides the skeleton, but it is the meticulous art of line-filling (ယွန်းခွဲ) that gives the piece its soul. As our female artisan team, she orchestrates a highly complex sequence of chromatic layering. Working in profound coordination with the master engravers, she and her team lay down traditional reds, yellows, and greens, alongside BAS's modern palettes of deep jade and smoky indigo.
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Ko Tin
Sepcialist of Lacquer Coating & CuringBefore the engraver strikes a line or the designer sketches a form, there must be a flawless foundation. At Burmade Art Space, Master U Myint serves as our "Alchemist"—the guardian of the raw materials. He controls the chemical balance, the strict timing, and the environmental conditions that transform tree sap into a monolithic, jet-black surface. By blending this sap with finely sifted bone ash and clay, he creates Thayo—the vital foundation paste that builds the piece from its bamboo skeleton.
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