Ceramics
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.
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