An important Illuminated Manuscript from Thailand about 1850
Each page is clickable for a better view. Information about this manuscript at the bottom of this page. Here is a selection of pages pasted together digitally and a few close ups. Additional images gladly on request.
Beneath these
gilded
covers lies a treasure of charm and beauty . Brilliant illuminations which tell
the Jataka stories ( birth stories). The tales of the lives and
incarnations of the Boddisattva, the Buddha to be.
This formal manuscript from the Ratanakosin school dates from the middle of
the 19th century. The text as usual written in black ink in mul characters.
The manuscript contains 88 connected leaves (5 1/4 X 14 1/4 inches) in fan-fold
fashion and is intact and complete. There are 8 illustrated double pages with a total of 15 illustrations
which are all but one shown here. The remaining 72 pages are in manuscript some
quite ornate. The last page with monks and skulls is very unusual as it
does not follow the traditional format. The paper is the usual very thick
and stiff mulberry pulp paper ( khoi
paper ) in use in the region during the time. Condition overall is
excellent and few Thai manuscripts have survived to date in such great
state.
This important manuscript was purchased in Thailand some 30 years ago and has
been in private ownership since. It is now offered for sale only because
it's owner is about to go into retirement. Additional information by
email. $3900
Information
Please visit our website for info on Thai and Burmese illuminated manuscripts http://dallasarts.net/sitemap.htm
Long before the
introduction of modern paper, Thai scholars were writing books on a variety of
subjects mainly religion but also warfare , nature, medicine, astrology, art and
more. These manuscripts ( Thai 'Samut') many of which tell the stories of the
lives of the Buddah or Jataka Tales were often illustrated with line drawings
or colorful miniature paintings. The format of these manuscripts is accordion like or fanfold and
stretched out may measure 20 feet or more .The paper , which is similar to extra
heavy
watercolor paper , was made from the pulp of the 'khoi' tree. Ink was made from lampblack
suspended in a liquid. Paints were derived from local earth pigments and other pigments imported from China. The paint brushes were
made from native
animal hair. Around 1835 modern paper and printing were
introduced to Thailand which spelled a quick end to this traditional art form.
Most of the manuscripts have been lost to time and the elements. Others have
found their way into museums, notably 'The National Museum of Thailand' and 'The
National Library of France' and private collections ( Former collection of Jim
Thompson) while a few are still guarded
by Buddhist monks in the libraries of temples. We instantly fell in love
with these lovely paintings and collected our material during
the 60's and 70's while working and living in Thailand. Ours is the only
important collection of this art form in the USA and we are selling it as we
look forward to retirement.
For more on this subject read 'Thai Painting' by Jean Boissellier ISBN 0-87011-280-5
'The House on the Klong'
( Jim Thompson Collection)
Library of congress Catalog No.68-206-40
'Ten Lives of the Buddha'
Siamese Temple Paintings and
ISBN 0-8348-0067-5