Ta-Krud - the latest word in amulets

Presiding over "Beads: Knowledge and Protection", a seminar at the National Discovery Museum Institute yesterday, Teera urged senior officials and academics to study the artefact trade to find out whether culture-based souvenirs, especially beads, could become popular products.

He cited as an example Turkey's "evil eye" bead, traditionally believed to ward off evil and bring good luck, which has become a hot-seller in that country.

New fashion accessory

He urged the Fine Arts Department to exploit the potential of the Ta-krud amulet as a fashion accessory and souvenir, telling officials that a famous Italian footballer had recently bought one in Thailand, in the hope that it would improve his soccer skills.

"This is not just about superstitions," he added. "Ta-krud amulets have been part of our history since the Sukhothai era. If we produce them as cultural souvenirs, there's no need to have holy rituals to anoint them."