An Introduction to Thai Bencharong Ceramics

Meanings• Meaning: Bencharong is from two Sanskrit words

1)panch: five, and 2)rong:color• There are usually five to eight colors on a piece• The explanation of the word “five” could be that five is

significant number in Buddhism, a large religion in Thailand.

• Five also symbolizes five elements: Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water. All of these except metal are used in making ceramics.

• “Water mixed with earth produces clay and wood ignites making fire to harden it.”

Lai Nam Thong

• In Thai means “gold wash.”

• A type of Bencharong ceramics.

• Gold is applied to the piece and it was only used by royalty.

• Quality of porcelain and craftsmanship was superb.

Characteristics• Both Bencharong and Lai Nam Thong share the

following traits:• 1)They both were originally brought from China (Jiangxi

Province)• 2) They are both made of porcelain and have a white

glaze• 3) They include Thai and sometimes Chinese motifs and

symbols.• 4) These symbols are painted in bright colors (enamels)• 5) The whole piece is covered in décor except for the

bottom (base).

Ramayana-Many Bencharong pieces contain pictures based on the Ramayana.-The Ramayana is an Epic Hindu Story with many characters.-The stories have a character name Rama, and Indian prince who goes on many adventures http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/india/literature/ramayana.htm

“A Garuda is a mythical creature with a human body and birdlike wings, legs and a thick curved beak with bulging eyes; his lower body is covered with feathers and he has the claws of an eagle.”

“Hanuman is a mythical monkey from the Ramayana and he is chief of the army of monkeys.”

“A mythical lion (singh)with the wings of a bird, a flowing mane, and a leaf-like tail is a Bencharong motif.A Chinese-style lion is sometimes used as a knob on covers. A Rajasingh is a royal lion.”

“A Norasingh is a mythical semi-deity who lives In the Himaphan forest that is a combination of a human head, torso, and arms with the hind-quarters of a lion and the tail and hoofs of a deer.”

“A Thepanom is a celestial being known in Buddhist cosmology and is usually depicted in a worshipping posture. A typical thepanom on Bencharong is seated and wears a collar and waist band formed from petals, bracelets and armlets made up of bands of small flowers.”

A Thewada (Thevada, Deva), a celestial being who lives in the lower heavens of Buddhist cosmology. He is typically depicted on Bencharong in a seated position with arms outstretched.

King Rama I (1792-1809)

Produced and imported in China, copied the Ayutthaya period

King Rama II (1809-1824)

The Lai Nam Thong ware of the Rama II period was considered to be the loveliest. Pictures includebirds and flowers and the use of gold outlines

King Rama III (1824-1851)

Use of white backgrounds

King Rama IV (1851-1868)

In this period Bencharong ware was not popular and their decline in popularity was indicated by the fact that blue and white Chinese, Japanese and European Pottery was widespread in Thailand. Bencharong & Lai Nam Thong patterns were painted and fired in Thailand over blue & white Chinese imports.

King Rama V (1868 - 1910) In 1880 Prince Bovornvichaichan erected a kiln for the manufacture of Lai Nam Thong ware in the Bovorn Sathanmongkol Palace (Wang Na). He ordered white glazed ware from China and had them painted and then fired in Thailand. Commonly found designs were derived from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Ramayana) or from Phra Apaimanee (a classic Thai play). Later, Phraya Suthonphimol (Plae Wasuwat) established a kiln for firing glazed ware. The designs on Bencharong ware were from stories in Thai literary masterpieces, such as Phra Apaimanee, Unarut and Laksanawong, etc.

From the Jim Thompson Museum Collection

19th Century

This 19th century covered bowl is one of the masterpieces in the collection. The decoration on this bowl is unique. Even though it is a narrative scene it can still fit into the Bencharong category because it is enamel ware and made specifically for the Siamese market. It depicts a shipwreck scene from the Mahajanaka Jataka (tales of the previous lives of the Buddha); it shows foreign trading ships and a Chinese junk; a green of sugar-cane-eye motif around the mouth of the bowl; a white band of a flower and leaf design around the top of the cover; a solid green band around the foot. The mouth of the bowl and the top of the cover are banded in metal.

Modern

$200 $300

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Sources

• Lesson Contributor: Brandi N. Supratanapongse 2009

• http://rooneyarchive.net/ceramics/intro-bencharong.html

• http://www.thailandsworld.com/index.cfm?p=453