The old silversmiths' quarter centred on Baan Wua Lai (Spotted Cow Village) stretches along both sides of Wua Lai Road; to the south of Chiang Mai's old city. This long-established; prosperous community of artisans maintains a tradition that stretches back more than two centuries; to the time of Chao Kawila's re-establishment of Chiang Mai in the years after 1797.

Silversmiths have long been valued and held in high esteem by Southeast Asian royal courts from Burma to Java; and in times past the Lan Na Kingdom was no exception.