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Authentic crafts & gifts of Chiang Mai, Thailand

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THAI CRAFTS

THAI DECORATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS
Thai arts and crafts, though modernized to some degree through improved technology, are still very much inspired by tradition. Thai handicraft cannot be classified as anything less than an art.
One of the main attractions to Thailand and in particular Chiang mai is the wealth of handicrafts. home decor & gifts.
Thai craftspeople are so diverse with their skills using natural materials such as silk, paper, cotton, ceramics, wood and precious metals that they create wonderful memories for visitors from all parts of the glob



THAI MASKS & DANCE CROWNS
Maskmaking is an art still being practiced today in much the same manner as it was years ago. It must be a very exact process since many masks appear identical except for a few small details. The artist starts with a plaster mold towhich fifteen layers of papier-mache are added. The paper used is a special kind called "koi." It is the same type of paper which Buddha's teachings were written upon for temple manuscripts.
The glue used for the papier-mache is made of rice flour. After the mask has dried, it is cut off the mold and additional layers of papier-mache are added to cover the cut. A resin from a sumac tree, lac, is then formed into strips and applied in order to accent the mouth, ears, and eyebrows. Various highlights are then added such as tiaras and earflaps. Finally, gold leaf and fake jewels are applied to the tiara or crown and facial details are painted on. Often, the masks are not made by one indiviaual but rather, several of the artists in the workshop contribute parts. Maskmakers must also repair masks which dancers bring in.


THAI WOODCRAFT
Rain tree is a native of South America, but has been dispersed throughout the tropics for at least 100 years. Because the trunk is huge in mature trees, rain tree is suitable for creating very large statues. A fast-growing and easily replaceable wood, it is the favored wood of importers outside of the tropics because the crisscrossed, interlocking grain keeps the wood from cracking when moved to other climates. It can be finished to a fairly high gloss.
Wood-carving is done in two styles bas-relief and free-standing both of which require similar steps of carving. Firstly, the carver sketches what he wants to carve on a piece of wood. Then he uses iron tools like a chisel and a hammer to cut and shape it accordingly. The work requires great care and patience as damage can easily occur.


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