Craftsmanship

Saw U's sound box made of the ground jackfruit seed

Description:
The Saw U is a two-stringed Thai instrument held vertically and played with a bow, from the Ayutthaya era (1351-1767). Its sound box is traditionally made from a coconut shell whose flattened front is covered by cow hide forming a resonant membrane. To make a beautiful and high-quality carved sound box it requires a great deal of time and attention.


Mr. Siri Ruaydee invented a Saw U's sound box made from ground-up jackfruit seeds after hearing a craftsman saying it was possible. This encouraged him to experiment in creating a new type of sound box. After two years of experimentation, he finally succeeded in using the ground-up jackfruit seed fibers as a molding material with a binder.




The new Saw U's jackfruit sound box earned Mr. Siri Ruaydee a certificate from the Thai Invention Association in 2003. In 2007 he received an award from the Bangkok Local Senior Thai Wisdom Association.




Phone: 662 410-4193 (Within Thailand dial 02 instead of 662)





Location: 3 Moo 9 (Moo is Thai for a village), Bang Chueak Nang Sub-District, Taling Chan District 10170

By Bus: 89.

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Craftsmanship

Wat Champa Thaeng Yuak Artisan Community

Description:
Thaeng yuak is the name for the traditional craft of making decorative carvings from banana tree trunks. Originally they were only intended as decoration for funeral rites and other auspicious occasions in Thailand’s central region, but nowadays, they are acceptable at all occasions.











Mr. Thaweesak Wangchan began learning this decorative craft from his father, who in turn was taught by palace craftsmen who fled to the Wat Champa community during World War II. The thaeng yuak creations of Mr. Thaweesak are characterized by designs and shapes he has invented. Some examples of his work include: mythical animals from the Himaphan forest described in Thai Buddhist cosmology and designs based on descriptions in the Thai theatrical epic Ramakien. The final step in the thaeng yuak process is to combine all the decorated parts into a single unified work of art by using bamboo fibers to connect the pieces.










Phone: 662 887-7807, 662 940-1215(within Thailand dial 02 instead of 662)

Location: Mr. Thaweesak Wangchan, 60/8 Moo 9, T. Chimphli, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170 - Moo is Thai for village.

Bus: 89.

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