Ancient vaults
Written by Writer on Friday, October 3rd, 2008
MUSEUMS
YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
The province of Sukhothai has an attractive collection of ancient ruins and historical memorabilia. Visitors keen for a glimpse of Sangkhalok - celadon pottery produced during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods (early 14th to late 16th centuries) - should check out Sangkhalok Museum.
Sangkhalok Museum boasts rare ceramic wares produced more than 700 years ago in Sukhothai.
The two-storey museum located within the grounds of Ananda Museum Gallery Hotel is popular among history lovers, museum enthusiasts and even ordinary folks who wish to know more about the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai.
Arriving at the museum, we were welcomed by Duangporn, a guide, who ushered us through a sliding door to a huge open area where, apart from a range of Sangkhalok pieces neatly arranged in air tight cabinets, lay earthen pottery excavated in Si Satchanalai district of the province.
The word Sangkhalok - we were told - is believed to have evolved from the name of a prominent city in ancient Sukhothai, “Sawankhalok”, which Chinese traders and merchants at the time found difficult to pronounce correctly, calling it “Sang-Kha-Lok” instead, which in time became standard.
Mini-Light and Sound Show at Sukhothai Historical Park. Traditional Thai dance put together by students.
A cluster of of kilns constructed along a trench were excavated in the old city of Sukhothai, she said. The kilns were used to produce monochrome white-glazed and underglazed black pottery.
Si Satchanalai is believed to have once been the largest site producing Sangkhalok pottery. The kilns stood on either banks of the Yom River, turning out high quality works in the form of celadon, underglazed black, monochrome white-glazed, monochrome brown-glazed, as well as two-colour glazed and underglazed pottery.
Spectacular Sukhothai-era porcelain, knives and statues recovered over the years are also showcased on both floors of the museum. Amazingly a large number of the plates and porcelain statues are still in mint condition, attracting visitors with their intricate design and beauty.
The museum also houses ancient earthenwares, Buddha statues and other items.
The gallery also has an impressive array of ceramics dating back to the Lanna Kingdom some 700 years ago. Duangporn said Lanna ceramics are distinguishable by their high quality and delicate designs. Worth noting is an exhibition detailing trade routes used to transport Sangkhalok ceramic wares to Japan and other East Asian countries. Ceramic products during those days were used for every occasion - from royal gifts presented at state events to decoration for buildings and kitchen utensils, said Duangporn.
Even for someone like myself who is ignorant about historical artifacts, the objects on show stimulated my imagination and underscored how advanced and powerful Sukhothai civilisation must once have been.
Typical Sangkhalok ceramic designs.
During the evening one should not miss the Mini Light and Sound Show at Wat Sa Si, Sukhothai Historical Park. It begins with a short narration in English, Japanese, French and Thai. A guidebook for this show is also available in English, Japanese, French, German, Chinese and Thai.
The performance takes visitors back 700 years to the time when Sukhothai was capital of Siam. The daily activities of the people during that era are highlighted through songs and dance.
One my favourite scenes was a Loi Krathong procession, when an immaculately dressed prince and princess come to a pond to release their krathong flower floats during a procession of women dressed in long-sleeved shirts and collared blouses made from brocade silk.
There is also a scene that retraces the route the Japanese emperor traversed when he visited this fabled city. At the conclusion of the event, an explosion of fireworks lit up the night sky. The light and sound performance runs until April next year.
For more information call the Sangkhalok Museum at 055-614-333 and the Tourism
Authority of Thailand’s Sukhothai office at 055-611-196.
