• 
• 

Published on September 29, 2007

Can there be anything like the life of an artisan in the royal court, working purposefully to preserve the country's heritage of traditional arts and crafts?

Recently, Her Majesty the Queen's deputy private secretaries Thanpuying Supornphen Luangthep and Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara (also assistant secretary general for Her Majesty's Support Foundation) took members of the press on a guided tour of the Silpacheep Centre at Chitralada Palace.

The tour marked the launch of the book "Arts of the Kingdom", a resplendent display of the Kingdom's age-old artistic finery, and sure to become a collector's item.

The Support Project was launched in 1970 by Her Majesty with her own private funds. In 1976 it was established as a foundation with the aim of finding effective ways for the underprivileged to supplement their income, helping them to a better standard of living. The hilltribes and villagers in remote areas were persuaded to give up opium-poppy cultivation and illegal logging to pursue their skills in weaving and handicraft making.

HM the Queen paid tribute to their determination in her birthday-anniversary speech on August 11, 1991 at Chitralada Palace's Dusitdalai Pavilion: "I am very proud of our people. The Thais are natural artists, no matter who they are or where they are living… Thais are also sensitive, with an artistic side that enables them to swiftly absorb and develop creative skills."

The qualifications required to become a royal artisan aren't as sophisticated as one might imagine; in fact the poorer the background the higher the chances of success for an application.

"Every time Her Majesty visits remote areas, we get new candidates," says Charungjit. "Most of the trainees start from zero, knowing nothing about the work or how to behave in such an illustrious setting. They're used to having a lot of freedom at home. I remember once when we had to call a guard to flush a few out of a mango tree. Hardly experts when they arrive, but they learn," she laughs.

"Her Majesty has always encouraged the artisans to love and appreciate the traditions they are working in by sending them on tours of temples and hotels that display fine Thai craftsmanship. Rather than feeling like typical artisans grinding on from day to day, they learn that the work of an artist is about creating beauty with skills that have to be handed on to the next generation." 

Somsak Saeten, or "Lao Pa", is the kindly royal goldsmiths' trainer. The speech-impaired 72-year-old was born into a Yao hilltribe in Nan province and has been with the foundation since it was established. He's raised five children, all now nurses or teachers except Wanchai Rattanaviphai, 39, who also works for the foundation.

Lao Pa sports a broad smile and big glasses. On the table in front of him sits a large magnifying glass, vital to the intricate work on the silver and gold piece he's making for the fifth "Art of the Kingdom" exhibition, being held December 18 to January 13 at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

His meticulous work hasn't gone unnoticed. He's been granted an audience with the Queen on several occasions and been given the honorary title of "Khem Raj Ruj Ji", something he's especially proud of.

Five artisans from the Silpacheep Centre accompanied Her Majesty on the Royal visit to Russia a couple of months ago. Among them was former Sakhon Nakorn farmer Sithichai Putcha, 33.

He was fascinated to discover of the different features that distinguished Western artworks from their Thai counterparts.

Sithichai is a trainee in Khram, or Damascene ware, metalwork inlayed with silver or gold thread.

He reveals that he was the only one among five siblings to be selected by the foundation, which had to spread opportunities to other poor families in the village.

Sithichai left school at a young age without any idea of what he wanted to do in life. But he liked drawing, and is now developing that skill as part of his Khram training.

To whet visitors' appetites ahead of the unveiling of the intricate masterpieces in December, those planning to visit the exhibition can leaf through the "Arts of the Kingdom", a compilation of the previous fruits of the foundation's work.

Included are the "Busabok Mala", a small, elaborate throne pavilion with a square tent-like structure that tapers from the base up to an ornately decorated tiered roof topped by a spire; and the "Sappagab Phragjatarn, a howdah crafted in gold with a design of flora and foliage used by the king to ride the royal elephant. Another howdah, the "Sappagab Chamlak Mai", exchanges opulence for an exquisite display of woodcarving.

Flip further and you'll find "Suphannabhetra", where the technique of Nielloware has been used to craft a miniature golden ship complete with gold and silver inlay, gold enamel, a metallic beetle-wing collage and a single diamond.

There are also gold and silver Khram, Yan Lipao basketry, "Malaeng Thap beetle-wing collages, enamel-work and silk weaving.

In Thai with English translation, the book costs Bt2,500 and is available at Silpacheep shops, branches of Siam Commercial Bank, B2S and Asia Books. 

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation