|
TEL: (66) 7532-5196-7
FAX: (66) 7532-5197 |
|
Local Flavor of Nakhon Si Thammrat
 |
Nakhon Nielloware |
is a famous craft of the province and is well known since the
old days. There are two types; black surface with white designs and
black surface with gold designs. Nielloware of this province is
popular for its durability and intricate designs by hand. The
finished product is a bright, shiny black object with beautiful
patterns. Items include rings, necklaces, bracelets, bowls,
pedestals, and trays. The best shopping area is Tha Chang Road,
behind Sanam Na Muang in the area of Wat Phra Mahathat
Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality, and the Tha Wang
market area. |
Nakhon Silverware |
Silverware, known as the best handicraft in Nakhon Si Thammarat,
is made into any kinds of jewellery, including necklaces, earrings,
and bracelets, as well as betel - nut containers and drinking cups.
Silverware artwork is exhibited at Wat Phra Mahathart, the three
outstanding pieces are the Betel - Nut tree, the bai phlu tree, and
a silverware ship that the people of Lansaka built as an offering to
the Buddha. Another important piece is a belt woven from silver
threads.
Some jewellery, known as Sam Khasat, is made from a combination
of silver and an alloy of gold and copper. Another famous type of
silverware, Namo, is typical in Nakhon Si Thammarat but unique in
other places
Nakhon Silverware is produced and sold in Thanon Tha Chang.
|
Brassware |
|
can be found at the Suan Maphrao Thai-Muslim village behind Wat
Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. The only brassware product now
available is a cylinder for making noodles. |
Shadow play making |
is an art that goes with the popular southern entertainment of
shadow play. Thai shadow play figures have been transformed from
those found in Java. The hands and feet of the figures are fully
movable during performances. The hide used can be either raw cow or
goat hide. Designs are made by using chisels of various sizes to
make small holes along drawn patterns. The price of each figure
varies according to the delicateness and size of each one. Shadow
play figures are now important products of Nakhon Si Thammarat and
Phatthalung. Nakhon Si Thammarat city, in particular, has plenty of
shops selling this unique product. |
Necklaces |
|
have long been the work of local silversmiths who can create
gold, silver and mixed (gold, silver and an alloy) necklaces. The
center is at Tha Chang Road behind Sanam Na Muang.
|
Pha Yok |
Pha Yok Muang Nakhon is a fabric art dating back to the
Rattanakosin Period. It is believed to have been introduced to
Nakhon Si Thammarat by the Sayburi people, who arrvied in the reign
of Phraya Nakhon Nao. The fabric's design varies from Lai Rajawat to
square, although there are many designs.
Because production is lengthy, complicated, and therefore
expensive, once only royalty and the wealthy bought Pha Yok. Today,
unfortunately, the craft is not as popular as in the past and it is
becoming increasingly difficult to find good Pha Yok craftsmen.
Although nowadays the government promotes Pha Yok, the old
design is no longer available, even if the modern design
incorporaten some of its features.
Produced at Baan Muang Kao and Baan Muang Song Thon, Pha Yok is
sold at the Bavorn Bazaar Centre and at Thanon Tha Chang.
|
Yan Lipao basketry |
is another famous product of the South, particularly in Nakhon
Si Thammarat where people have been making it for over 100 years.
Yan Liphao is a climbing plant that grows in damp places. The trunk
is very tough and durable, so locals found a way to make good use of
it by making household goods such as handbags, tobacco boxes, tea
utensils, etc. Some pieces are encased in silver alloy, gold alloy
or gold. It takes around 10 days to a month to make one item,
depending on the details of the design. The major Yan Liphao
production spots are Ban Mon, Tambon Tha Rua and Ban Na Khian,
Tambon Na Khian, both in Amphoe Muang, and families in Fort
Vajiravudh. |
Kapho fans |
|
are made from a kind of palm called Ton Pho by locals. The
villagers of Ban Khok Yang in Ron Phibun use their spare time to
make the fans. The leaves are dried and then woven into fans. Some
are dyed into bright colors and sold at reasonable prices. Kapho
fans are well known and sold throughout the country. Fans in Nakhon
Si Thammarat can be bought at stores at Wat Phra Mahathat
Woramahawihan, souvenir shops on Tha Chang Road and in Bowon Bazaar
in the Tha Wang market area. |
Seur Khajut |
|
This is a local handicraft made from the Khajut tree, which is a
water weed. The stem is dried, dyed in different colours, then woven
into mats. It is also made into hats, bags, tablecloth, and even
wall decorations.
It is produced in Baan Neun Thammong, Cha - Uat district, Nakhon
Si Thammarat. |
Mhajak |
|
Mhajak is a container made from a kind of palm leaf and used to
fetch water from the well. There are two kinds of Mhajak
distinguished by the styles of their handles, one type of handle is
made from two intertwined palm leaves, the other from two parallel
palm leaves.
The palm leaves are also of two kinds, one from the tonjak tree,
the other from the betel - nut tree.
Today, Mhajak is not used as much as it once was. It is sold at
the Bavorn Bazaar Centre, and at Thanon Tha Chang.
|
Thro |
|
Thro is a local handicraft which makes baskets for carrying
fruit such as mangosteen, rambutan, durian, and also local string -
beans. It is used a lot in the Lansaka and Phromkiri districts.
These baskets have a mouth smaller than the body which widens at
the bottom. At the month of the basket, are two narrow handles
through which a pole is run. The pole is long, and the handles on
the basket narrow, so that the basket does not swing and hit the
legs of the carrier, baskets are also placed on both ends of the
pole for balance. Thro is used in the mountains and is made from the
klum tree, which has a strong bark and is plentiful in the area.
It is sold at Bavorn Bazaar. |
|
