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By Marie Moon
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."
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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.
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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.
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