Malaysia · Jewellery / Precious Metalwork
Tukang Emas / Traditional Tamil Goldsmithing
Tamil hand-goldsmithing as practiced in George Town, Penang: crucible melting, casting, hand forging, carving, stone setting and precision finishing, with machines used only where heavier mechanical work is useful, to make bespoke jewelry, wedding thalis and devotional and temple goldwork, and to repair and remodel pieces. The record documents the craft through a fourth-generation workshop on Queen Street, where Raju Murugesan, who learned from his father from childhood, works with M. Thanas. Reporting in 2026 confirms the workshop is still operating, under sustained competition from larger retailers and factory-made jewelry.
Risk level: Endangered · Not individually inscribed; practiced within George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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