Thai Ceramics & Pottery

The tradition of Thai ceramics dates back to the third millennium BCE. Thai cermics are distinct by mixing indigenous styles with preferences for unique shapes, colors and decorative motifs.Thai pottery and ceramics were an essential part of the trade between Thai and its neighbors during feudalistic times, throughout many dynasties.

Thai ceramics show a continuous development through different clay types and methods of manufacturing since the prehistoric period and are one of the most common Thai art forms. The first type of Thai ceramics ever recorded was the Ban Chiang, dating back to about 3600 BCE. Sukhothai ware, the most famous style of Thai ceramics, is exported to many countries around the world today.

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Nature never hurries yet everything is accomplished...Lao Tzu

 

Sukhothai Ceramics

The first grouping of ceramics is all high fired stoneware featuring a crackled finish. The founder of these pieces studied and practiced the ancient glazing techniques of the Lanna Kilns and Sukhothai kilns.

Ceramics from the ancient kilns have fine shapes. The glaze indicates a certain level of sophistication achieved only through patience and years of practice, with a lot of time spent on a single piece of ceramic.

In addition to the traditional ceramic designs, they have combined contemporary lifestyle scenes along with  distinguishing flora patterns on jet black backgrounds.

The Process:

Inspired by the unique combination of Sukhothai, Sangkhalok and Wiang Kalong-era styles of glazed ceramics, the craftsmen specialize in underglaze painting, painting with glaze and sculpting patterns .

They use locally based Thai clays, glazes and firing processes combined with the skills of their ancestors, developing a unique body of knowledge. This has helped them to overcome technical limitations, allowing them to follow their imaginations in creating these products.

They use molds as well as the wheel to create each piece. If using a mold, it must then be trimmed and refined. Then it is bisque fired

This first firing takes approximately twelve hours bringing the objects to a temperature of 1796 degrees Fahrenheit.

 Each piece is then finely hand painted with meticulous detail. This is very time consuming, but the results are stunning. After the glazing and the decorations, the product is placed in the kiln for the second time to ensure a perfect fixing of the enamel. The second firing is done at a temperature of  2282 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Be kind whenever possible...It's always possible...Dalai Lama

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Ban Chiang

Pottery

Ban Chiang is a village in The Udon Thani Province Thailand.  Here the oldest pottery has been found dating back to 3600 BCE.

This is the style of the ancient pottery from this important archeological site.

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Nothing is forever except change