Crafts

Beautiful hardwoods such as teak have long been abundant in Southeast Asia. Easily worked and resistant to insects, these woods have been used for centuries by Thai craftsmen to decorate homes and to fashion richly ornamented carriages, palanquins, elephant howdahs and boats which proclaimed the status of the owner. Perhaps the most famous examples are the royal barges which are still used in state ceremonies, most recently in 1999 as part of the celebration of the auspicious occasion of the 72nd birthday of His Majesty the King. The barges are carved by master craftsmen from a single piece of teak. The gilded bows are flamboyant representations of mythical beings such as the phoenix or naga (nine headed snake). The royal throne is another graceful example of the woodworkers craft, as is the carriage which is used in royal funerals to take the last remains of Kings to the Crematory Pavilion. The carvings on the latter are strongly suggestive of flames enveloping the royal urn.

Woodcarving was also used to decorate wats. The pulpits, doors, windows and gables of the temples feature unique and delicate designs, while the front end of the roof almost always incorporates a carving of a naga which is lacquered, gilded and adorned with scales made of a glittering glass mosaic. Buddha images were sometimes carved from wood, but more often were cast in bronze.

A vast assortment of domestic items are carved from wood. Bowls, tableware betel nut boxes and tall screens with many delicate and intricately carved panels are made from a variety of hardwoods.

Woodcarving has been one of the most important crafts in Thailand since the founding of the Sukhothai kingdom, but because of Thailand's climate few ancient carvings have survived. Only a few examples from Ayutthaya escaped the devastation of that ancient capital. The National Museum in Bangkok is the best place to view the handful of magnificently crafted specimens which have been preserved.

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