Traditional Handicrafts Thailand is justly renowned for the quality and variety of its traditional handicrafts. Produced in a rich variety of media, these make not only ideal souvenirs or gifts, but are also perfect as distinctive items for interior design and home decoration. Royal Crafts
Nielloware
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No
finer examples of traditional Thai craftsmanship can be found than those
produced under royal patronage. As a result of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's
efforts, SUPPORT (Foundation of the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations
and Related Techniques), was established in 1976 to help the poor and
revive Thailand's time-honored crafts. Today, craftsman working under
SUPPORT guidance produce a wonderfully rich collection of many kinds of
traditional handicrafts. These SUPPORT crafts may be purchased from the
Foundation's chain of exclusive outlets, Chitrlada Shops, and all proceeds
go to the on-going development of the project.
Practiced
in southern Thailand for hundreds of years, nielloware is the craft of
decorating gold and silver objects with delicate etched designs filled
with a metal alloy. Workmanship of high quality today finds expression
in a number of beautiful nielloware trays, boxes, vases, and other items
widely available in Bangkok and the south, notably in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
