“I have always taken pride of the fact that the artisanal blood runs strong in every Thai; be it farmer, gardener or anyone from any walk of life from all across the country. Thai people have delicate and spontaneous artistic sense. All they need is simply a chance to train their skills and they would demonstrate their gifted talents for all to see”
The speech of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother on 11 August 1989 at Dusidalai Hall, Suan Chitlada.
Arts of the Kingdom Exhibition consists of a selection of highlight collection and archive collection created by the artisans of Queen Sirikit Institute. These art collections portray ancient Thai craftsmanship techniques including Gold Nielloware, Silver Niellow, Gold Damascene, Silver Damascene, Gold Nielloware, Silver Nielloware, Yan Lipao Basketry, Bamboo Basketry in Khit Pattern, Wood Carving, Enamel Paints, Embroidery, Silk Weaving, Beetle Wings Collages and many more. Some magnificent masterpieces required over 100 artisans and many years to complete.
Here are some of the exquisite craft pieces on display at the museum.
MODEL OF THE SRI SUPHANNAHONGSE ROYAL BARGE
An exquisite model of Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge of the First Reign is a spectacular piece of silver crafted with gold niello. The majestic golden head of the mythical swan is enamelled and has diamond eyes and fangs. Its mouth holds an ornate long and supple golden tassel decorated with diamonds. Perforated gold designs are embellished with strips of beetle wings with the tail being enamelled. The Busabok Throne is crafted of enameled gold and embellished with diamonds and the tiered umbrellas are of perforated gold decorated with diamonds. The perforated enamelled flag flies at full mast while carved and perforated wood panels are gilded with gold leaves.
This masterpiece was created in celebration of two auspicious occasions; King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s 60th coronation anniversary in 2006 and King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s 80th Birthday Anniversary in 2007.
Size: Width 23 cm Length 3.5 m Height 71 cm
Number of Artisans: 108
Production Time: 2 years 9 months
BUSABOK MALA
Busabok, a small elaborate pavilion throne, is a square tent-like structure tapering up from the base into an ornately decorated tiered roof topped with a spire. Classified as a regalia of rank, the Busabok with two ‘Krern’ or extended structures on both sides is known as Busabok Mala.
Busabok Mala, a Royal Throne, is a masterpiece crafted in gold and shimmering with diamond embellished designs. The spire is topped with a motif of a sheaf of rice, while the gold finials of the tiered roofs are of gold diamond studded floral designs. The richly glowing tiered roofs are crafted in gold nielloware, supported by four redented columns in khram gold damascene inlay, and screened by golden drapes in ‘Lai Kaew Ching Duang’ diamond-decorated floral motifs. Golden khram Naga serpents entwine the columns with their heads down and tails rising to support the structure.
The ceiling is richly decorated with punched and hammered gold sheets in finely perforated pattern decorated with a large shining star studded with nine auspicious gems. The Busabok floor is covered with a mat of finely woven golden strips. An enameled-gold pedestal tray holding an ornate gold and diamond floral offering is placed on a lion-footed redented gold nielloware platform. Both Krern side levers are decorated with gold and enameled gold, in Lai Kranok Bai and Dok Thed floral designs studded with diamonds. The floor of the Krern extended structures are covered with a mat of finely woven gold strips that hold Naga footed trays of floral offerings alongside the filigreed gold seven-tiered umbrellas which are decorated with diamonds.
The curved base of the Busabok Mala is decorated with gold celestial beings. The platform of the Busabok Mala that is crafted in gold khram or Damascene, which is the art of scoring a metal base and hammering in hair-fine gold inlaying wire of intricate designs, are also richly decorated with luminous beetle wing collage.
Crafted to celebrate the 6th cycle of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother in 2004, this particular Busabok Mala is a small replica of the Busabok Mala Maha Chakraphat Piman at the Amarin Vinichai Throne Hall of the Phra Maha Monthien Royal Residence in the Grand Palace.
Size: Width 63 cm Length 1.55 m Height 3.275 m
Number of Artisans: 285
Production time: 1 year
Arts of the Kingdom Museum provides shuttle tram services from a car park to the museum. Audio guide is available in 10 languages; Thai, English, French, Russia, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, German, Italian and Spanish. Interactive touch screens are in place to give narration and detailed information for visitors. The museum is open from Wednesday – Sunday from 10am – 3.30pm and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. The ticket office is closed 30 minutes before the museum closes. For further information, please call 0 3535 2995, 0 3535 5995, 0 2283 9557 or visit https://www.facebook.com/artsofthekingdom/.
Arts of the Kingdom Museum is closed for the New Year holidays during Monday, 28 December 2020 – Wednesday, 6 January 2021.
DESTINATION
PHOTO CREDIT:
http://www.artsofthekingdom.com/th/
http://article.culture.go.th/
https://www.sarakadeelite.com/arts_and_culture/online-artsofthekingdom/
หนังสือ อัคราภิรักษศิลปิน โดย ศ.ดร. รื่นฤทัย สัจจพันธุ์
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