With skills that are passed down from one generation to the next, the art of Thai crafts has long been a reflection of Thai people's creativity and ingenuity. The intricate detail and meticulous methods is a display of inventiveness, and the elaborate designs proof of perseverance. Moreover, the abundance of natural materials such as wicker, palm leaves, rattan and coconuts make it possible for Thais to produce beautiful and inexpensive handicrafts.
Since ancient times, the term 'chang sip mu' (ten categories of craftsmen) has always been used to refer to various kinds of arts and crafts. These ten categories are painting, lacquering, carving on hard objects, carving on soft objects, modeling, padding, lathing, casting, sculpturing and plastering. Over the past few years, the number of craftsmen has been continuously decreasing, but with the tremendous support from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Royal Craftsmen College, situated in the Grand Palace, has been set up to teach those interested to learn these endangered craft disciplines, and to preserve it as part of the country's cultural heritage.
Also have a look at Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC).
Here are some of Thailand's most famous crafts to look out for:
Celadon
Probably the most well-known and sought-after form of Thai crafts, celadon ('green stone') is a kind of high-fired stoneware, carefully hand-made with a wood-ash glaze. Although its name means 'green stone', celadon does come in many other shades as well. Another striking feature of celadon is its cracked glazed surface, which is caused by a difference in the coefficient of contraction between the body of the clay and the glaze when the product is cooling.
Stone Carving
Stone carving is an ancient craft where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. The delicate art of stone carving is effortlessly mastered and perfected by skillful Thai craftsmen.
Mother-of-Pearl Inlaying
Second only to Khon mask-making, the art of mother-of-pearl inlaying is almost as difficult as the former because each piece of shell must be delicately cut and polished into a very tiny size to fit into each part of the equally delicate pattern.
Khon Masks
The art of making Khon masks is regarded as the most difficult of all craft techniques. To make a Khon mask requires various skills like modeling, carving, sculpturing, painting, lacquering and gilding. Before making a mask, one needs to perform the 'paying respect to teachers' ceremony, in which an instructor holds a student's hand to draw a 'kanok' (Thai decorative patterns) for the auspiciousness of the student's study.
Carving on Hard Objects
Carving is the art of creating patterns by cutting wood, ivory, bone or buffalo horn into a required shape. Teak is a popular wood used in carving, and often used to carve Buddha images and parts of ordination hall decorations such as roof spirals. In the olden days, traditionally, Thai wood carvings were normally inlaid with colour glass pieces or gilded with gold leaf. This not only beautifies but also helps prolong the durability of the carvings.
Lacquering
Lacquering is the art of coating things like leaves of doors and windows in black lacquer and gilding them with gold leaf. Examples of this craft technique are book cabinets holding Buddhist scriptures and door leaves of many Buddhist temples. Lacquer, or 'rak' in Thai, is the resin of a plant in the same family as the cashew nut. This resin is irritating and can cause a severe rash on the skin. Consequently, some people who are allergic to it will not be able to do the job. The process of lacquering is complicated and painstaking. It usually takes up to three or four months to complete such a work of art.
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Textile
Hand-woven textiles are typical of traditional rural communities, and the craft flourishes especially in the northeast. The most famous fabric of the region is 'mat mee' silk, with production centered around Khon Kaen where there is a week-long annual silk festival in early December. Unlike other kinds of Thai silk, 'mat mee' is made from tie-dyed yarn, which permits the weaver to work distinctive, multi-coloured patterns into the design - truly a silk of rare distinction!
For more on Thai silk, have a look here.
Nielloware
This is where a dark amalgam of lead, copper and silver metals is rubbed into etched silver. The craft was first introduced to the south from India, and then spread to the north. Nielloware is used to decorate trays, betel boxes, vases, and other small objects.
Pottery
The Mon people, a minority group who live on the island Koh Kret on Bangkok's Chao Praya River, are believed to be the first inhabitants of Thailand. They're also renowned for their exceptional pottery skills, and the best way to see these crafty and friendly people at work is to go on a cycling tour on the island. You'll find yourself in another world - and it'll be difficult to imagine the city is just 20 minutes away by boat.
Sculpturing
Sculpturing is the art of making objects by shaping clay. Buddha images and idols are popularly made in this way.
Lacquerware
Lacquerware is a craft special to Chiang Mai and the northern region, but its history in Thailand dates back from the Ayutthaya period. Three layers of lacquer from the Sumac tree are brushed onto a wood or wicker based and each layer is polished with charcoal. Then a fourth layer is added, and once more highly polished with charcoal. For a finishing touch, it is inscribed and then soaked in red dye for a couple of days.
Weaving
The intricate detail of some weaving techniques often have tourists in awe. Especially noteworthy are elegant and beautifully designed handbags woven from palm leave and then lacquered - so detailed that it looks like it has been painted. Some of the handbags take a whole month to complete (just one), and could set you back as much as 25,000 baht (about US$ 650)! A huge variety of other very affordable woven products like placemats, baskets and hammocks - and made from various natural materials - can also be found everywhere.
Silverware
This is a speciality of hill-tribe women living in the northern part of the country. Look out for intricate bracelets, earrings and necklaces - some inlaid with semi precious stones. |
