Museum Category Asian

The Sacred Trio: Ceremonial Thai Elephants

Subject: Three elephants adorned in elaborate ceremonial dress, including headpieces (nettipattam-style) and decorative blankets (howdah cloths). Cultural Context: The elephant is a symbol of strength, royalty, and good fortune in Thailand. Historically, white elephants were particularly prized as they were…

Wat Arun and the Golden Barge in Gilded Weave

Visual Style: This piece uses a monochromatic gold supplementary weft technique. The high-contrast black background is designed to simulate traditional Thai lacquerware (Lai Rot Nam), where gold leaf is applied to black lacquer. Subject: It captures the Suphannahong Royal Barge…

Life on the Khlong: A Thai Riverside Village

Subject: A quintessential depiction of Central Thailand’s water-based lifestyle. It features traditional wooden houses built on high stilts to accommodate seasonal flooding, with villagers navigating the “khlongs” (canals) in small paddle boats. Iconography: Note the inclusion of the lotus flower…

The Suphannahong Royal Barge at Wat Arun

Subject: The Suphannahong (Royal Barge) is the King’s personal vessel, recognizable by its mythical swan-shaped prow. In the background is Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), known for its massive prang (spire) decorated with porcelain. Symbolism: This scene represents the…

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“Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver”, Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari MET DP351397
“Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver”, Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari MET sf55-121-13a
“Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver”, Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari MET sf55-121-13b
“Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver”, Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari MET sf5512113