Silversmith carries on ancestral tradition

A set of pure handmade offering-bronze-bowls takes Li two days to finish, and the price for it is 480 yuan.

Li has also gained the trust of customers with his honest approach to business. Once, when a customer paid him an extra 400 yuan ($65) by mistake, Li called the man and returned his money right away. The man was touched by Li's honesty, and the two men have since become good friends.

As a result of the quality of his work and his honesty, Li has many returning customers. His business booms, especially in the summer.

His silverware includes silver-plated wooden bowls, bowl covers, cups, drinking vessels, bracelets, rings, earrings and religious articles.

"Most of my customers are Tibetan regulars, and I have had an increasing number of tourists since 2006," he said. "The bowl covers are my best-seller."

A simple silver bowl cover takes him three to four days to finish. A larger work can take three to four months.

The work of a silversmith involves a number of procedures, such as tablet compressing, cutting, carving, welding, sanding and polishing.

Away from work, Li enjoys playing badminton, singing and walking around the monasteries of Lhasa.

"Whenever I have time, I like to circumambulate the Potala Palace and other temples as part of my religious practice," he said.

Li said he hopes the tradition he followed from his father may continue in the future with his son.

"If my son cannot go to college, I want him to carry forward my skills because it is a stable job."

Contact the writers at palden nyima@chinadaily.com.cn

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