Mother-of-Pearl cutting and polishing, Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

There is no evidence of when mother-of-pearl lacquerware was first made. However, it is believed that the Chinese first made lacquerware tradition since they were found immensely in the Hun Dynasty period, especially around the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century. Therefore, it is believed that the lacquerware tradition derived from China through trade, commerce, art, and lifestyle. Especially in Japan, Korea, Thai, Vietnam, and Myanmar, as lacquerware can also be found in these countries.
Lacquerware is a handicraft that uses lacquer as the primary material. Generally, Thai lacquerware integrates other craft techniques into the workpiece, including Thai Minor Art, Decorative Art, Fine Art and Craft. It is believed that Thai lacquerware was a cultural influence from China, as same as the Burmese lacquerware. However, mother-of-pearl lacquerware requires a high level of specific skills, so the compensation is also high. Therefore, mother-of-pearl lacquerware has always been a traded commodity since ancient times and has played an important role in royal and religious ceremonies.
The beauty of mother-of-pearl lacquerware resulted in the appreciation of the Thai elite. They usually use the mother-of-pearl lacquer to decorate wooden figures, ritual tables, doorframes, and religious hall window frames. Moreover, the procedure of mother-of-pearl lacquerware is very complicated and requires intricate multi-craft skills, such as pattern designing, perforating, and perforating. Therefore, mother-of-pearl lacquerware is considered one of the intangible cultural heritages of Thailand with distinctive, unique, timeless beauty.

Learning Center/ Craft Community: -
Keyword: Lacquerware, Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware, Pi Nai, Thai Instrument, Nakhon Pathom
Reference:
Wiboon Lisuwan. (2015). Folk Handicraft and Utensils Dictionary. Bangkok: Meung Boran.
SACICT. (n.d.). Mother-of-Pearl Handicraft. Retrieved 7 July 2022, from www.sacit.or.th: https://www.sacit.or.th/uploads/items/attachments/d8e1d5073bde1c96433e0463f000bb35/_fe975817e6810da243b6755147534cd7.pdf
Suksawat, Ch. (2022, Fubruary 7-8). Knowledge about Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware. Interviwed by Burachat Srivilai
Luang Visan Silpakam. (1954). Mother-of-Pearl Handicraft Manual Book by the Ministry of Culture. Bangkok: Thaprachan.
Editor: Mrs. Burachat Srivilai, Head of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, SACICT
Date of Record: 8 July 2022