Thailand, which was called Siam until 1939, is in the center of mainland Southeast Asia and surrounded by Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Cambodia. It is home to large numbers of immigrants and their descendants from China and other countries in South and Southeast Asia that include a broad range of ethnic groups. Most Thais are adherents of Theravada Buddhism, which is shared by people in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and parts of southern China and southern Vietnam. An important part of Theravada Buddhism is the community of monks (sangha) and almost every community has at least one temple-monastery (wat), where monks live, offer Buddhist teachings, perform communal rituals, and receive offerings from laypeople. Laypeople acquire Buddhist merit (bun) from these gifts which improves their karma and chances for good rebirth. Monks also convey the teachings of the Buddha through sermons and actions that exemplify ideal behavior. From the 14-16th centuries Thailand was a major exporter of ceramics to many Asian counties that were made in Si Satchanalai area in kilns called Sawankhalok. The VA collection offers some of these items. from which the VA collection has pieces. We also. have bronze items made during the Khmer Empire’s expansion into Eastern and Central Thailand as well as bronzes from the first Thai Sukhothai Kingdom.
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Prehistoric Thai Bronze Age jewelry, adzes and tools have been found all over Thailand. Excavations from various soil levels show many sites had been inhabited for millennia. They confirm the existence of an early, well-developed metallurgical tradition of bronze digging and cutting tools, adzes (ancient axe like tools to cut wood), adult and child’s bronze…
Smoking tobacco in Burma/Myanmar and Thailand has been an integral part of Southeast Asian cultures for centuries and are usually found underground by hill-tribe farmers when ploughing their fields in Northern Thailand and Burma. They usually have small chips on the bowl, body and stem and are otherwise very good condition. The bowl often has…
Sawankhalok in north-central Thailand is an area with a large ceramic kiln output during the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1583). When Ming emperors forbade export of Chinese ceramics from 1368-1487, a period known as the Ming Gap, Thailand became a major ceramics producer and exporter to Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. During the 14th and…
Sawankhalok in north-central Thailand is an area with great amounts of ceramic kiln production during the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1583). When Ming emperors forbade export of Chinese ceramics from 1368-1487, a period known as the Ming Gap, Thailand became a major ceramics producer and exporter to Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. During the 14th…
Sawankhalok in north-central Thailand is an area that had a large ceramic kiln production during the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1583). When Ming emperors forbade export of Chinese ceramics from 1368-1487, known as the Ming Gap, Thailand became a major ceramics producer and exporter to Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. During the 14th and 15th…
This lovely 20th century Thai bronze statue is Guanyin, Goddess of Infinite Mercy and Compassion who hears the cries of the oppressed. She sits in meditation (dhyana mudra) hands in the lap holding her sacred vase containing amitra the sacred dew of compassion, healing and immortality that represents humanities’ tears and her the never ending…
A wood or metalwork Buddha statue or painting is called a Buddharupa, in Sanskrit meaning “the form of an Enlightened One.” Made in Thailand, this Buddha exhibits traditional characteristics of Theravada Buddhist statues and is rendered in Lopburi style which was predominant in the central, east and northeast Thailand during the seventh to thirteenth century…
Antique hand-crafted kitchen-accessories and tools and other objects such as coconut cutters are examples of the artistic skills of Thai carvers to transform functional and utilitarian objects into attractive decorative pieces. Coconuts are ubiquitous in Thailand, used for all aspects of Thai life: coconut milk and meat are staples in traditional Thai dishes and are…
This mid 20th century Buddha Shakyamuni in Earth Witnessing position is carved in rural Lao style. Covered with gilt, the small rustic and simply carved image follows Lao artistic canons for depicting a Buddha: a curved hairline and high arched eyebrows that meet at the bridge of the nose, distinct hair curls, long ears, and a flame-shaped radiance emerging from his ushnisha. Its very large base is as tall and wide as the image, reflecting Laotian beliefs that a high pedestal reflects a deep respect for the Buddha. A base has been added for display purposes. Authentic old Lao images, even small personal ones like this, are difficult to find.
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