Thai Culture

Creator of Legendary Handmade Thai Dolls

Bangkok Dolls are created by Khunying Tongkorn Chandavimol with the help of about twenty artisans. These dolls are exquisitely handcrafted to represent Thai Culture and have been found in the collections of Royalty and professional doll collectors around the world for more than four decades.

Testimonials
Bangkok Dolls have been awarded prizes internationally, that include First prize and the Honorary Gold Peacock Feather Award from The 3rd International Folklore Dolls Biennial in Cracow, Poland. Over the years, Bangkok Dolls has received praise from various people in letters, newspaper and magazine articles, books and in their visitor's log.

"They are truly an example of fine art. They have a silent beauty that bridges all bounds of language and culture."

James John Baren : U.S.A.
"Whether it is the classical dolls of the Ramakien, or those dressed in traditional or other classical costumes, these dolls beautifully portray the brilliance of colour, the exotic charm and the natural grace of the Thai people."
Alexander Bowie : Pacific Magazine
"It is a most skillfully executed creation which is alive and dazzling. My family and I are most proud to possess this exquisite work of art..."
James Fitcher : U.S.A.
"When a tourist comes to Bangkok, one of his "musts" is to pay a visit to Bangkok Dolls workshop where Mrs.Tongkorn Chandavimol supervises the making of the exquisite hand made silk dolls."
Bangkok World Magazine
"We had difficulty finding the factory. However the experience of meeting this fascinating lady was well worth the search. This has made this day wonderful."
Dianne Kelly & Margaret Kent : Australia

Bangkok Dolls House & Museum
Anyone planning a trip to Thailand may enjoy visiting the Bangkok Dolls House and Museum. It is situated in an area of beautiful settings according to Thai history and literature. The museum displays a large collection of famous International dolls from all over the world.

Khon is a type of classical Thai dance drama. The theme of a Khon presentation is consistent; performances always re-enact an episode of Ramakien, a well-known classical Thai story in verse, based on the Indian epic of Ramayana and the masked performers are always elaborately costumed. Ramakien was written in 1798 by King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok and of the Chakri Dynasty that rules Thailand today.

The names of the characters from Ramakien will be well known to anyone with knowledge of Thai art, as they form a rich, colourful source of inspiration for many Thai artists. Princes Praluk and Praram, his consort Sida, Thosaganth, the giant and the monkey, Hanuman, all hold impressive poses upon everything from canvas to stone.

Thosaganth makes various attempts to stop the invasion. At one point, he asks his niece Benyagai to disguise herself as Sida, using magic. She floats in the water, as if dead, past Rama's camp in the morning. The first part of the plan is so successful that Thosaganth forgets himself and tries to court the disguised Benyagai. However, the second part of the plan fails, because the white monkey general Hanuman, with the permission from Rama, cremates the dead body. Under this circumstance, Benyagai is compelled to rise into the air to escape. She is caught by Hanuman who takes the advantage to make love to her and eventually has a son with her.

Rama then orders his monkey army to make a bridge from the mainland to the island by putting stones into the sea. Hanuman and the black monkey general Nilapat are at first put in charge of the operation. They quarrel and come to blows. Rama thereupon decides to separate the two by sending Nilapat back to the mainland and leaves Hanuman in sole charge.

When Thosaganth hears of Rama's attempt to make a bridge across the sea, he asks his daughter Nang Madsha, the Golden Mermaid and her fish followers to remove the stones. Hanuman, finding that the stones are quietly disappearing, dives into the sea, finds Nang Madsha, makes love to her and asks her to command her followers to put the stones back. This allows the construction to continue and the bridge is completed. Rama thereupon marches his army over the causeway and prepares to do battle with Thosaganth.

The war between Rama and Thosaganth lasts almost fourteen years and consists of many battles in which Rama, Laksh and Hanuman have to fight various demon leaders that Thosaganth had enlisted to assist in the defence of Lonka. Among the battles in which the demon leaders are eventually killed, the better known ones include:
1. The campaign of Maiyarab, the Magician, King of the Netherworld
2. The campaign of Kumpakan, brother of the demon-king
3. The campaign of Crown Prince Indrajit, eldest son of Thosaganth
4. The campaign of Sahasadeja, King of Pangtal
5. The campaign of Viroon-Chambang, King of Charik
6. The last battle in which Thosaganth is killed by Rama with the help of Hanuman

At the end of the fourteen years period of exile, Rama becomes King of Ayodya.

The Bangkok doll factory was started by Khunying Tongkorn Chandavimol. Shortly after World War II, a friend, coming back from the U. N. building in New York, complained of the poor quality of the dolls from Thailand that she had seen in stores there.

Tongkorn accompanied her husband on a tour of Japan in 1955 and during the trip, she took a short course in doll making. It was a year later that her dream of becoming a doll maker became a reality.
Bangkok Dolls, having received numerous awards and the honour and prestige of often being given as gifts to visiting royalty by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand. sit in the homes of such notable people as: His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, Ronald Regan, Queen Elizabeth and many more too numerous to mention.

 Benjarong Magazine - November 2003, Volume 6 Issue 11