Rattanakosin
to Contemporary Era
 The
present era, known as the Rattanakosin, or Bangkok, period,
has seen a revival of many of the crafts which had attained
their peak of artisanship during the Ayutthaya period. Some
crafts, such as the weaving of silk, declined in the face
of western imports, and were not revived until after the Second
World War. The practical, domestic crafts, like basket weaving,
and the religious crafts, such as the carving of temple ornaments,
continued to be handed down from generation to generation
in the villages and towns. But many of the crafts that had
served the nobility were forsaken by the wealthy and powerful
who, during the early years of the period, developed a taste
for western fashions, accessories and manufactured items.
Still,
sufficient traditional knowledge was preserved, and when Her
Majesty Queen Sirikit decided to help the rural people by
fostering the development of craft industries, it was possible
to find craftsmen who could teach the necessary skills. Her
royal patronage and encouragement have helped rekindle the
traditional crafts, which are now enjoying something of a
renaissance.
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