Crafts

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of prehistoric pottery making in Ban Chiang in Northeast Thailand and at Nong Nor in the South on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. These fragments predate the arrival of ethnically Thai people in the area by thousands of years.

Ceramics, including glazed green-blue celadon, were first developed by the Thai during the Sukhothai era. Shipwrecks found in the Gulf of Thailand demonstrate that it was an important export, and examples have been found in Borneo, the Philippines and Indonesia. When Ayutthaya, in the central plain, achieved supremacy, the techniques from the more northern kingdom were followed, but the artistry of the Sukhothai era was largely lost. The crude but colorful ceramics made in Ayutthaya became known as Bencharong, a word derived from the Sanskrit words meaning 'five colors'. Later, during the early Bangkok period, the Chinese began making ceramics with distinctively Thai patterns which were exclusively for export to Siam, as the country was then known. These also became known as Bencharong, and had designs incorporating images from Buddhist and Hindu mythology, as well as floral and lotus motifs. Production in China stopped after the end of the Manchu dynasty, but a number of Thai entrepreneurs have revived the art in the last few years using the traditional colors, patterns and shapes.

Different regions in Thailand make different traditional ceramics. Ratchaburi, in the central plain west of Bangkok, is noted for the large yellow-green water jars decorated with mythical creatures and swirling lotus motifs. The blue and white pottery reminiscent of the Chinese Ming dynasty is also made in central Thailand in large quantities. In the North there has been a revival of the art of making celadon which the potters of Sukhothai originally learned from the Chinese. The Northeast is known for the dark brown pottery which is used for water jars, flower pots and small sculptures.

Back to Top