WHO ARE THE KAREN HILL TRIBE?

Karen People

Thai and Burmese hill tribes can be traced back to the 12th century, originating from Tibet. The Karen tribe is the largest of around twenty hill tribes whose total population today numbers more than seven million across The Union of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. In Thailand, around 400,000 Karen live at between 800m and 1800m up in the mountainous and densely forested regions of Mae Hong Son, due west of Chiang Mai. Most villages are remote from Thai civilisation. Houses are made of teak or bamboo and usually constructed on stilts to provide space and shelter for livestock. The Karen villagers have few possessions and little if any furniture, usually sleeping on floor mats, cooking on open fires, and drawing washing and drinking water from a nearby river. They are predominately farmers of agricultural produce for their own use and are often referred to as 'The farmers of the forest'. Some speak the Karen language, whilst others speak Thai.

 

Hill Tribe or Thai silver is hand-crafted by the Karen Hill Tribes of Thailand. It is rolled and hammered with primitive tools. They take great care with their designs, and they use stamps on many of the pieces. Because the pieces are handmade, the size and shape will vary a bit from piece to piece.