มรดกไทยงดงามอลังการทรงคุณค่า Thai Heritage Beauty, Elegant and Value
“ The art and cultural heritage of a nation
Resonates its sovereignty, independence and unique pride.
Reflecting what is good and beautiful
It lightens the path of the people. ”
A poem composed by Mr. Naowarat Pongpaiboon, National Artist, beautifully concludes the values of art and culture. We should be proud of the heritage that Thai people have inherited and treasured for centuries.
Thai food, all types of performing arts, Thai architecture, Thai traditional clothing and various kinds of handicrafts are parts of the heritage that reflects Thainess and ancestors’ knowledge. It has helped build up Thai society with stability up to the present. In details, each type of Thai art and culture including Thai food, traditional clothing and jewelry not only represents external exquisiteness but also reflects the internal spirit of love and connection of great craftspeople who left their masterpieces with people of their generation and also for later ones to appreciate the beauty of art and culture with pride.
Thai Heritage is a group of people whose desire is to study, research, preserve, produce, create, collect, connect, integrate, publish and present the art and cultural heritage to the public both domestically and internationally, in the hope that that the Thai heritage will be of everlasting value and stay in people’s mind for a long time.
It is unbelievable that jewel beetle wings delicately embroidered on a shoulder cloth owned by Her Majesty Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great over a hundred years ago, were still shimmering and extremely beautiful, although the fabric had deteriorated over time.
This particular shoulder cloth was graciously selected by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother and displayed at the Vimanmek Mansion, Dusit Palace on a special occasion to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Rattanakosin Period in 1982.
During His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s royal visits to the northeastern region with Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, local people presented woven fabrics, Khit pillows, fruits, flowers and also garlands of jewel beetle wings. Therefore, Her Majesty proposed a royal initiative
“If jewel beetle wings are used to create artistic works, we will be able to preserve jewel beetle wing embroidery of ancient time”.
The Queen Mother provided royal guidance suggesting that artisans incorporate thin strands of jewel beetle wing into Yan Lipao ferns to decorate handbags. After that, this technique was developed into the making of larger artworks including dividers embellished with jewel beetle wings and an entire chamber decorated with jewel beetle wings. The intricate decoration of jewel beetle wing strands on Yan Lipao ferns was one of the nine exquisite masterpieces displayed at the 6th Arts of the Kingdom exhibition held at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.
This branch of handicraft was incorporated into other sophisticated arts to adorn the royal dining table in welcoming royal heads of states, government leaders and diplomatic corps including a statue of gold peacock with decorated feathers sitting on silver branch and a model of Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge. All royal guests were favourably impressed by the mentioned artworks.
In addition, during the renovation of Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, or the Great Victory Chariot for the Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, four curtain tiebacks were designed by applying Prajam Yam, a traditional Thai flower pattern with golden threads and decorating with beautiful emerald beetle wing tassels.
The use of jewel beetle wings is considered as a significant part in emphasizing the beauty, elegance and value of artworks.
With great vision, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother appreciated the beauty of jewel beetle wings and provided support as well as encouragement to use them in various handicraft arts. As a result, the jewel beetle wing has become an important material used in Thai artistic works for ages.
