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The Benjarong is Thailand’s priceless
contribution to Asian pottery. Once the prized
possession of royal palaces and upper-class Thais,
it is today, the pride and perfection of ancient
Thai craftsmanship.
But what exactly is the Benjarong and why does it
possess such magical qualities with sheer beauty
and serenity? Read on to unravel the history and
making of this ancient masterpiece.
History of the Benjarong
During the early Ayutthaya period (1350 – 1767),
Thai craftsmen made a somewhat crude multi-colored
earthenware known today as the Benjarong – a term
based on the Sanskrit words panch, meaning five,
and rang, meaning colors, thus literally referring
to the ‘five-colored.’ The style of painting
multi-colored enamels on a white porcelain base
was influenced by the Chinese Ming dynasty, and by
the 17th century, the Benjarong became an
exclusive household possession of rulers and high
nobility – marking a period where high quality
Benjarongs with unique Thai designs were produced.
Colored enamels added over the glaze were fused to
the surface in a descending scale of temperatures.
The Benjarongs were also decorated with swirling
flame-like motifs and Thai-style thepanoms, or
celestial beings. These were made exclusively for
the royal household as utilitarian items, such as
rice bowls, stem plates and covered water jars.
Shortly after, artisans applied 12 or 18 carat
gold onto Benjarongs to enhance their appearance.
The Making of a Benjarong
The making of the Benjarong is a long and arduous
process requiring great patience and complete
dedication. A prolonged heat treatment is required
after the object is made, and once again after the
hand painting is done. The drying process of the
hand painting cannot be accelerated by using a fan
or blower, as this prevents the colors from fusing
into the ceramics.
The process:
1.The ceramic ware is hand made into the specific
size and shape desired.
2.The ceramic ware is heated at over 500 degrees
for over 6-7 hours.
3.A few hours is spent on polishing the baked
ceramic ware to smoothen the surface.
4.A thin layer of glaze is applied onto the
smoothened ceramic ware.
5.The ceramic ware is heated once again to give it
a glazed and polished surface.
6.A craftsman then hand paints some designs onto
the polished ceramic ware.
7.Every color needs to be completely dried in
order to apply a new color, taking from hours to
days to complete.
8.The finished hand painting on the ceramic ware
is left to dry for another 6 hours.
9.The painted ceramic ware is heated once again at
over 500 degrees for 5-6 hours, as this ensures
that the colors are fused into the Benjarong.
The Benjarong today is one of the most popular
types of ceramics in Thailand. Known to be the
most exquisite for its hand painted designs, it is
of little wonder that these masterpieces are
exclusively produced by only the most talented and
highly skilled of Thai artisans.
About The Author...
Sawaddee Khap! My name is Yanapat Jaenjira; you
can call me Pat. I am the founder of Royal
Benjarong. My team and I have plans to launch an
online store to promote Thai culture and
conveniently provide the best quality Benjarongs
available. Please take 30 seconds to fill up the
Benjarong survey below. We appreciate your
precious contribution and hope to serve your needs
in the near future.
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