Known for its beautiful traditional and contemporary handicrafts, it's no wonder that Thailand is home to some of the most beautifully decorated houses in the world. Elegant, innovative and versatile, Contemporary Thai is overflowing with an amazing array of design ideas. From modernist furniture, table settings, light fixtures and furnishings combining old traditions with new styles, Contemporary Thai is the perfect book for anyone looking to add a distinctive touch to their home decor.
Author: Wongvipa Devahastin Na Ayudhya, Jane Doughty Marsden, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
Paperback:
144 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(2007-03-15)
ISBN: 0794604765 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $11.99 Used Price: $6.90
From the beaches of the south to the mountains of the north, Thailand is a beautiful and diverse land. Thailand: The Golden Kingdom encapsulates Thai history, culture, and art in one compact volume. It gives an endearing portrait of Thailand's multi-ethnic population, the people's beliefs and ways of life and sets it in an historical and cultural context. Over 140 stunning color photographs illustrate the clear, insightful text about all aspects of one of Asia's most fascinating places.
Author: William Warren, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
Hardcover:
96 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(1999-09-15)
ISBN: 9625934650 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $15.42 Used Price: $12.44
From the glittering chedis of Bangkok's Grand Palace to the rustic simplicity of village dwellings, Thailand offers a rich diversity of art, architecture and design. Classic Thai seeks to define the unique characteristics of Thai style, be it through the country's rich arts and crafts tradition, in its plentiful temples and palaces, or in a contemporary home. Photographed entirely on location, Classic Thai is an indispensable guide to the wonders of Thailand.
Author: Chamsai Jotisalikorn, Phuthorn Bhumadhon, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, Virginia McKeen Di Crocco
Paperback:
240 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(2007-03-15)
ISBN: 0794604668 List Price: $34.95 Amazon Price: $22.57 Used Price: $15.28
A companion volume to John Peacock's 20th Century Fashion and Men's Fashion, Fashion Accessories is the most comprehensive record ever published of fashion accessories throughout the twentieth century. More than 2000 full-color drawings--the result of extensive research into paintings, photographs, and the accessories themselves--reproduce each original item in meticulous detail, accompanied by a complete description. The book covers every kind of high-fashion male and female accessory for both day and evening wear: hats and caps; shoes, boots, slippers, and sandals; bags and purses; umbrellas and parasols; jewelry; scarves, stoles, and capes; gloves and belts; cravats, ties, and bow-ties. It includes a wide range of streetwear and sportswear, from baseball caps to plastic sandals, and every variety of the ubiquitous late-century sports shoe. All the century's archetypal accessories are identified, from the luxurious ostrich-feather and flower-bedecked hat of the 1910s and the cloche and pearl necklace of the 1920s, to the velvet scarf and mini-backpack of the 1990s. A final reference section contains a comprehensive bibliography and a chart that shows at a glance how accessories have evolved since 1900. There are biographies of the century's most influential accessories designers, from Salvatore Ferragamo and Manolo Blahnik to Patrick Cox and Georgina von Etzdorf, plus short histories of companies and firms that have played an important role in accessory design. For fashion enthusiasts, historians, and collectors, as well as designers working in the performing arts, this book will be the definitive reference work on twentieth-century accessories. Over 2000 color illustrations.
Author: John Peacock
Hardcover:
192 pages
Company: Thames & Hudson
(2000-09)
ISBN: 0500019975 List Price: $34.95 Amazon Price: $21.32 Used Price: $16.00
With more than 500 ravishing full-color photographs, Asian Style Hotels brings you to the best hotels in Southeast Asia. The super-deluxe establishments included here are all at the cutting-edge of hotel design and management. Each property has been hand-picked according to a set of criteria that includes a strong design aesthetic, architectural integrity, and a sense of individuality a million miles away from the cookie-cutter approach of chain hotels. Asian Style Hotels is the definitive guide to Southeast Asia's finest places to stay.
Author: Kim Inglis, Jacob Termansen, Pia Marie Molbech
Paperback:
240 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(2005-09-15)
ISBN: 0794601723 List Price: $30.00 Amazon Price: $12.98 Used Price: $9.95
Once revered as semidivine beings and collaborators in the hard work of transporting goods and materials, Thailand's elephants have fallen on hard times. With the destruction of their forested habitats, a consequent nationwide ban on hardwood logging, and the decline of traditional agriculture in the rapidly urbanizing country, their numbers have declined from tens of thousands just a decade ago to only a few thousand today. Many of the surviving elephants have been put to work in traveling circuses or used for black-market labor, subject to overwork and all manner of abuse.
Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid, Russian expatriates who have been working together for more than 30 years, have a knack, writes art curator Mia Fineman, for "transforming the solemn rituals of high art into high comedy." It was with the utmost seriousness, however, that the two, on reading of the elephants' plight, traveled to Thailand and established the Thai Elephant Art School, through whose offices elephants create pop-art masterpieces with palette, brush, and trunk. (Elephants, it seems, have a well-known gift for the visual arts and, in the Thai case, adore the work of Vasily Kandinsky.) Sold to collectors on the world market, pachyderm-painted pieces generated $75,000 at a single early auction, the proceeds of which were used to establish and maintain sanctuaries throughout Thailand.
Illustrated with elephantine artwork and more than 100 photographs documenting Komar and Melamid's project, this book makes a wonderfully offbeat gift, and one of a very good cause. --Gregory McNamee
Author: Komar & Melamid, David Eggers
Paperback:
120 pages
Bargain Price
Company: Harper Paperbacks
(2000-11-01)
(2000-11-07)
List Price: $20.00 Amazon Price: $355.27 Used Price: $52.75
For several years, Thai women have been well on their way to becoming international celebrities. The cheerful attitude, the graceful movement, the charming smile, the gentle nature, the lovely figure, the total lack of self-pity. All this and more seems to have combined into a Siamese bewitchment captivating men of almost every nationality. For many, the mention of Thai women conjures up the stereotype of unbridled sensuality in the lush Tropics. But in pictures and in text, Thailand: Land of Beautiful Women attempts to delve deeper into the reasons for their phenomenal popularity.
The author concludes that, from classical dancers to construction workers, from go-go dancers to rice farmers, their charm is far more than merely physical. Thai cultural values and the teachings of the Buddhist religion have endowed the women of Thailand with confidence, grace and intelligence.
Their attraction involves a vivaciousness, a well-developed sense of humor, and, perhaps, above all, the intelligence to deal with life's problems while maintaining an almost childlike ability to delight in living. In other words, an attitude toward life which understands that life is meant to be enjoyed.
Author: Dean Barrett
Paperback:
160 pages
Company: Village East Books
(2001-08)
ISBN: 0966189930 List Price: $17.95 Amazon Price: $11.00 Used Price: $11.00
A detailed, profusely illustrated survey of Thai architecture with its many styles and forms.
Thailand's architecture comes alive in this magnificently illustrated volume, the most comprehensive book on the subject yet published, exploring every genre from houses and farm huts to temples, palaces, and modern buildings. It is the first major book to focus on the myriad elements that make Thai architecture so rich in beauty and meaning. With hundreds of images by leading photographers, this is an accessible, inspirational source book for designers, architects, and everyone interested in Southeast Asian culture.
The book is a collaboration between leading architect Nithi Sthapitanonda, who did the drawings, photographs, and research support, and writer Brian Mertens, who did the writing, main research, and many photos. 800+ illustrations in color and black and white.
Author: Nithi Sthapitanonda, Brian Mertens
Hardcover:
256 pages
Company: Thames & Hudson
(2006-05-29)
ISBN: 0500342237 List Price: $60.00 Amazon Price: $37.16 Used Price: $34.74
An intimate photographic portrait of a spiritual, colorful, and exotic country, Thailand introduces readers to the brilliant color, vibrant multi-faceted culture, deep-seated spirituality, remarkable architecture, and hospitable people who have, for centuries, made Thailand a magnet for travelers from around the world. Gorgeous photographs depict iconic Thai imagery that convey the splendor and unrivaled beauty of this ancient land. From the bustle of modern-day Bangkok to serene temples and pristine beaches, this volume takes readers on a memorable journey through a truly exotic land.
Author: Steve Van Beek
Hardcover:
128 pages
Company: White Star
(2007-03-27)
(2007-03-27)
ISBN: 8854402060 List Price: $9.95 Amazon Price: $5.87 Used Price: $5.87
Prior to the nineteenth century, the independent kingdom of Lanna flourished in Northern Thailand. Lanna stretched as far north from Phitsanulok to Chiang Rai, as far east as present day Laos and as far west as Burma. Over the centuries, Lanna developed a distinctive art, architecture, languag e, and culture.
Author: Michael Freeman
Paperback:
240 pages
Company: River Books Press Dist A/C
(2006-07-05)
ISBN: 9748225275 List Price: $35.17 Amazon Price: $15.21 Used Price: $1.09
Thailand's majestic capital has spectacular Buddhist statues, unique cultural experiences, and a wonderful variety of natural colors. In Bangkok: City of Angels, Bill Wassman's camera brings us exquisite portraits and views of Bangkok's people, places, and a host of other delights. More than 140 stunning color photographs, backed by Joe Cummings' lucid and insightful writing, show clearly why Thailand's heartbeat continues to enchant and beguile all who visit her.
Author: Joe Cummings, Bill Wassman
Hardcover:
96 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(2005-09-15)
ISBN: 0794601286 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $45.17 Used Price: $12.25
That special style that defines a culture is born of many elements. Thai style, so vividly revealed in its architecture and interiors, is the product of a distinctive landscape, a skillful use of varied influences, and a history unique among the peoples of Southeast Asia. It is a style that can be found in rustic country homes or chic Bangkok residences elegantly furnished with antiques and family heirlooms. It may be reflected in a number of unique and historic houses which preserve the best of the past, in unmistakably contemporary interiors where old and new sit comfortably side by side, in traditional structures revamped for modern living, and in lush tropical garden settings and seaside resorts.
The over 370 color photographs by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni present a luminous vision of this distinctive style. A concise introduction by author William Warren places Thai design in context and adds another dimension to our understanding of Thai culture. It is followed by a photographic essay which isolates elements of Thai style, from traditional objects and art forms to handicrafts and street art.
Architecture and interiors are treated in four chapters--Traditions, Traditions Adapted, Foreign Influences and Tropical Modern. Useful measured drawings are featured in the Architectural Notebook, a final section.
Author: William Warren
Hardcover:
232 pages
Company: Rizzoli International Publications
(1990-11-15)
(1990-11-15)
ISBN: 0847810437 List Price: $50.00 Amazon Price: $29.94 Used Price: $5.99
From its early beginnings as a 5th-century Lawa walled city through the recent boom in residential and commercial design, the temple-studded city of Chiang Mai has become an inspiration for architects and designers. Nestled in a mountain valley in Thailand’s far north, Chiang Mai has long been a haven for artists and artisans who have taken inspiration from Burmese, Chinese, northern Thai, Shan, Thai Lu, hill-tribe and European sources, then fused them into a uniquely Chiang Mai art and culture. This cross-fertilisation of ideas owes much to the city’s history as a vital midway point for mule caravan routes between China and the Gulf of Martaban; even with the demise of the caravan trade it has remained a major supplier of arts and crafts to the world.
Today, the city’s historic uniqueness of style merges with post-modernism and functionalism to respond to contemporary urban needs while maintaining a distinctly ‘Chiang Mai’ identity. With more than 300 stunning colour photographs and clear, concise text, Chiang Mai Style captures the essence of the city's eclectic yet distinctive architectural style. This book celebrates the architecture, interiors and crafts of Thailand’s second largest city. From the vernacular architecture of the traditional Lanna style to chic residences to luxurious hotels and spas, the essence of this fascinating city is revealed.
Author: Joe Cummings
Hardcover:
232 pages
Company: Marshall Cavendish Editions
(2005-12-01)
ISBN: 9812328319 List Price: $49.00 Amazon Price: $33.62 Used Price: $21.55
The Honda Collection is one of the finest private collections of South-East Asian ceramics ever assembled, including over 350 pieces that span some 4,000 years from the Neolithic period to the seventeenth century. This English edition of the collection catalogue includes over 300 illustrations, many in full colork, and an informative introduction.
Author: Hiromu Honda, Noriki Shimazu
Hardcover:
284 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1997-05-29)
ISBN: 9835600201 List Price: $170.00 Amazon Price: Used Price: $105.00
Thailand's cultural heritage is rich with holidays and festivals. Religious, royal, and agricultural holidays and cultural festivals all contribute to a kaleidoscope of colorful activities that have long captured the hearts of the local people as well as the interest of visitors. This beautifully illustrated book discusses the reasons for observing the various festivals, their origins and legends, and the location and time of year at which each takes place. Gerson shows throughout how, in Thailand, religion and culture are intertwined.
Author: Ruth Gerson
Hardcover:
108 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1996-07-22)
ISBN: 9676531111 List Price: $29.95 Amazon Price: $165.85 Used Price: $38.25
This volume brings together two decades of research into the process of commercialization of the folk crafts of Thailand: the conditions of its emergence, the parties involved in its development, the changes in the processes and organization of production which accompany it, and the transformations in appearance and meaning which the products undergo as a result of their commercialization.
Author: Erik Cohen
Paperback:
316 pages
Company: University of Hawaii Press
(2000-12)
ISBN: 0824822978 List Price: $20.00 Amazon Price: $0.99 Used Price: $0.99
In his lavishly illustrated new study, Henry Ginsburg describes a wide range of Thai manuscripts and other documents in European and North American collections, discussing each in its religious and historical context.
The book extends and expands on the author's previous work Thai Manuscript Painting, which was an introductory survey of the main types of painting, based primarily on British Library material. Since then many superb illustrated manuscripts, a number of them with dated colophons, have come to light in Western collections. The new manuscripts alter our understanding of the subject, and this important new study includes dated examples from 1797 through the end of the nineteenth century, enabling us to accurately define the development of style.
This highly informative book contains an impressive compilation of maps, letters, photographs, and manuscripts that will make it a valuable reference tool for the Southeast Asia scholar, while its colorful illustrations and readable captions will appeal to a wider audience interested in Thai culture.
Author: Henry Ginsburg
Hardcover:
138 pages
Company: University of Hawaii Press
(2000-10)
ISBN: 0824823672 List Price: $45.00 Amazon Price: $14.73 Used Price: $12.95
Author: John Clark
Hardcover:
344 pages
Company: University of Hawaii Press
(1998-09)
ISBN: 0824821424 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $14.45 Used Price: $10.00
Author: David Devoss
Hardcover:
144 pages
Company: New Line Books
(2005-09-01)
ISBN: 1597641014 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $9.75 Used Price: $8.96
Modern architecture is a creation of the West. In a non-Western context, it normally reflects a direct intervention of Western powers through colonization. Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is an exception. Thai people have argued that they adopted and assimilated modern architecture into their unique cultural tradition without being physically colonized.
The shift toward Western culture and Modernity is evident in 19th and 20th century Thai architecture, particularly in the capitol city of Bangkok. Major public buildings signify the country's domestic political circumstances, its Westernization and Modernization processes, in addition to the discourse of colonialism and anti-colonialism. Many of the best-known works resulted in hybrids between European and Siamese design characteristics. They hold more importance than simply stylistic developments, and in essence show a manifestation of social and political awareness, as well as national and cultural identity known as Thainess or khwampenthai.
This dissertation examines the evolution of Western and Modern architecture in Siam and Thailand. It illustrates how various architectural ideas have contributed to the physical design and spatial configuration of places associated with negotiation and allocation of political power, which are throne halls, parliaments, and government and civic structures since the 1850s. In order to advance multi-cultural and cross-cultural studies, the buildings are investigated for their social, political, economic and cultural signification, considering the issues of cultural borrowing, appropriation and transformation, national and cultural identity, socio-political authority, as well as the native's resistance and reconciliation to the process of colonization.
Author: Koompong Noobanjong
Paperback:
448 pages
Company: Dissertation.com
(2003-10)
ISBN: 1581122012 List Price: $35.95 Amazon Price: $35.95 Used Price: $32.55
Bangkok, the "City of Angels," challenges our perceptions of what a city is, or should be. A barely stable setting for its 12 million inhabitants, its rapid growth and transformation defies traditional ideas of urban organization. Yet, in spite of its chaotic state, Bangkok presents moments of arresting beauty. Barry Bell uses the tangible artifacts of the city, its topography, streets and monuments, as ve-hicles for speculating on Bangkok and its central mythologies.
Author: Barry Bell
Paperback:
224 pages
Company: Reaktion Books
(2003-07-15)
ISBN: 1861891571 List Price: $32.00 Amazon Price: $11.98 Used Price: $7.99
This massive and comprehensive volume is the culminating publishing event of the author's lengthy and meticulous research into Khmer mythology, its messages and meanings. From around 800 to 1300, the Khmer empire stretched across a vast swath of Southeast Asia ; its powerful rulers built magnificent temples to glorify their reigns, and adorned them with carved stone work of immense size, complexity, and artistry. In statuary, myriad pediments and lintels, and many miles of bas-relief walls were portrayed the lives and legends of Hindu gods, adopted and transformed from Indian sources, and Buddhist themes. Professor Roveda has previously published on the motifs and mythology of the Khmer stonework in the Angkor area; this monumental volume incorporates that work as well as his researches on the great Khmer monuments flung across Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, and is illustrated with over 1800 color images in text and on a supplementary CD.
Author: Vittorio Roveda
Hardcover:
640 pages
Company: Floating World Editions
(2006-07-31)
ISBN: 1891640291 List Price: $90.00 Amazon Price: $82.98 Used Price: $82.99
This richly illustrated, very readable book presents a survey of early Thai art within the context of recent art research. These extraordinary glimpses into Thailand's once hidden past have remained hidden and disconnected until recently. Here in one volume is a comprehensive survey over three and a half millennia of art that has led toward the formation of the modern Thai nation.
Between 1880 and 1930 Thai law was modernised. Using the French civil code as their model, the kings of Siam recast traditional Thai law into western form. This book describes Thai law as it was before 1880. For at least five-hundred years-- perhaps nearer a thousand years the Thai have used written lawbooks. During the last twenty years Thai scholars have systematically searched for these lawbooks through the book chests of monasteries. As a result there is now a very large number of legal manuscripts available for study. In this book six experts describe the new discoveries and assess how far our view of traditional Thai law has to change. The essays have a regional focus, dealing with the Northern Thai traditions of Lanna, the provincial cities of central Thailand, the Southern Kingdom based on Nakhon Si Thammarat, the law texts of Laos, the new discoveries in Burma and finally with Bangkok and its famous Three Seals Code
Author: Andrew Huxley
Paperback:
211 pages
Company: Orchid Press
(2006-09-25)
ISBN: 9748299864 List Price: $18.00 Amazon Price: $11.44 Used Price: $11.44
Author: Etienne Aymonier, Walter E. J. Tips
Paperback:
318 pages
Company: White Lotus Co Ltd
(1999-06-30)
ISBN: 9748434583 List Price: $19.50 Amazon Price: Used Price: $23.50
Author: Susan Conway
Paperback:
192 pages
Company: British Museum Pubns Ltd
(1992-08)
ISBN: 0714125067 List Price: $42.95 Amazon Price: $15.95 Used Price: $11.95
The fascinating area of Southeast Asia known as the Golden Triangle is home to six culturally distinct peoples--the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu--who struggle in a hostile environment to maintain the integrity of their beliefs, customs, and way of life against all the pressures of the rapidly changing society around them. Paul and Elaine Lewis spent decades living and working with the tribes of Northern Thailand. The results of their experience and research are gathered in this book, along with more than seven hundred photographs--most of them in color. Here we see not merely the demanding landscape in which these peoples live, but their ceremonies and rituals, their clothing and ornamentation, their houses and villages, and the impressive skills that they exhibit in crafts such as jewelry, textiles, and basketmaking.
Author: Paul Lewis
Paperback:
300 pages
Company: Thames & Hudson
(1998-12)
ISBN: 0500974721 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: Used Price: $124.98
Author: Fine Art Publishing
Hardcover:
344 pages
Company: Fine Art Publishing
(2000-10)
ISBN: 9057040417 List Price: $60.00 Amazon Price: $59.00 Used Price: $30.00
Bangkok Design is the first book of its kind, exploring the acclaimed new furnishings from Thailand and the inspiration behind them. This book profiles 36 of the best Thai designers, showing how they translate their own culture and personal experiences into original products. This group explores a wide variety of styles-minimal, expressionist, modernist, neo-traditional, retro and pop-but each designer has an individual signature.
The profiles include several studio artists whose work either has decorative characteristics or else comments on design-related issues such as cultural identity and sustainability. This inspiring book, beautifully photographed by Robert McLeod and lucidly written by award-winning author Brian Mertens, will appeal to interior designers, architects and collectors.
Author: Brian Mertens
Hardcover:
224 pages
Company: Marshall Cavendish Editions
(2006-12-01)
ISBN: 9812326006 List Price: $45.00 Amazon Price: $28.26 Used Price: $16.59
The Yao, a non Chinese minority moved most likely from the Yang Tse Basin many centuries ago to the Southern Chinese provinces of Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. Possibly around the 13th century they pushed onwards to northern Vietnam then Laos and finally Thailand. Perhaps nine or ten centuries ago they became Taoists and adherence to this religion has helped them survive as a small but sophisticated society based on 12 original clans, with very strong traditions, customs and culture but no country of their own.
This book covers all aspects of the Yao agricultural society, including their numerous migrations, work, dwellings, magnificent religious paintings, manuscripts, elaborate costumes and silver jewellery. It is based on fifteen years of fieldwork and research in China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The research covers the two main branches of the Yao; the Mien and the Mun, together with their sub-branches, groups and sub-groups including some little researched Vietnamese groups. It is an invaluable record of a people who have maintained their identity and culture in the face of their world which was always changing for the last thousand years and even more so today.
Author: Jess G. Pourret
Paperback:
277 pages
Company: Art Media Resources
(2002-01-01)
ISBN: 1588860159 List Price: $49.95 Amazon Price: $38.59 Used Price: $61.95
Buddhist temple murals have been a vital form of religious expression in Thailand for centuries. In this lively, slim volume, historian David Wyatt takes a peek behind the scenes to investigate the wider meanings hidden within the beautiful, elaborately painted images that adorn Thai temples. Wyatt shows how a sensitive reading of these "texts" from the past can reveal fascinating new insights into the psyche and history of Thai communities.
Author: David K. Wyatt
Paperback:
80 pages
Company: Silkworm Books
(2004-07)
ISBN: 9749575474 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $24.94
Asking first, "Who was the Buddha?" this concise yet complete study explores Buddhas's evolution from a historical teacher to a supernatural universal emperor. Fickle examines the features shared by all images of the Buddha, especially the images found in Thailand, and carefully delineates the historical influences on each style. A generous sampling of superb black-and-white and color illustrations further illuminate the beauty and variety of Thailand's Buddha images.
Author: Dorothy H. Fickle
Hardcover:
112 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1989-11-30)
ISBN: 0195889207 List Price: $22.00 Amazon Price: Used Price: $18.74
A handy, pocket sized field guide to Thailand's birds featuring excellent color photographs and brief accounts for 252 different species. Each species account contains information useful to identifying each bird, while color coded "thumb tabs" assist in quickly locating specific species accounts. A must have item for any bird watcher planning a visit to Thailand. Illustrated with over 250 color photos,
Author: Michael Webster, Chew Yen Fook
Paperback:
144 pages
Company: Ralph Curtis Publishing
(1999-06-01)
ISBN: 0883590417 List Price: $15.95 Amazon Price: $14.50 Used Price: $36.16
Author: Karl Doehring, Karl Dohring, Walter E. J. Tips
Paperback:
167 pages
Company: White Lotus Co Ltd
(2000-04-28)
ISBN: 9747534398 List Price: $17.95 Amazon Price:
This contemporary collection offers a tantalizing taste of Thailand's burgeoning art scene. Beginning with an extensive overview of the issues, trends, and events that have shaped contemporary Thai art, this showcase demonstrates how Thai artists are grappling with their country's rapid modernization in a diverse array of media, often melding international art trends with distinctly Thai craftsmanship. Profiles of 23 established and emerging young artists are featured with thematic descriptions , more than 80 color illustrations, and revealing insights from the artists themselves.
Author: Steven Pettifor
Hardcover:
130 pages
Company: Thavibu Gallery
(2005-09-28)
ISBN: 9749173767 List Price: $70.00 Amazon Price: Used Price: $95.62
For centuries, Bangkok, Thailand's capital, was a city of boats. To travel from one part of Bangkok to another, the Thai paddled along the Menam river and its' canals. But late in the 19th century, the people adopted Western habits and modernized the city, accordingly. The new city surrounded by high walls has been laid out around the royal palace and the encompassing parks. The modern aspect of Bangkok offers an eclectic contrast to the four hundred Buddhist temples, adorned with gilded spires and roofs of carved teakwood.
This comprehensive and attractive reference is divided into four parts: the historical and cultural background; the analysis of Northern Buddha images, including iconography, style, techniques, and dating; the types of Northern Buddha images; and associated Buddhist sculpture, such as footprints and mythical creatures. The Buddha images are classified by style and date, using those images with inscribed dates as the armature around which to cluster the undated statues. The images are analyzed in detail and placed in their historical, cultural, and religious context. Richly illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this volume is an indispensable reference and guide to Buddha images and other Buddhist sculpture of Northern Thailand.
Author: Carol Stratton
Hardcover:
472 pages
Company: Serindia Pubns
(2003-06)
ISBN: 1932476091 List Price: $60.00 Amazon Price: $49.50 Used Price: $49.50
This book offers, for the first time, a comprehensive account of the development of modern art in Thailand. Its central focus is to trace the main thread of eclecticism that characterizes modern Thai art, and to show how foreign influences, as well as Buddhism, local traditions, and folk cultures, served as catalysts in the development of styles.
Author: Apinan Poshyananda
Hardcover:
316 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1992-10-11)
ISBN: 0195885627 List Price: $125.00 Amazon Price: $125.00 Used Price: $95.64
Written by a member of the Thai Royal Family, this is the first book to present a complete history of votive tablets in Thailand, covering their production from the sixth century AD to their present day manifestation in the popular practice of wearing amulets.
Author: Pattaratorn Chirapravati
Hardcover:
112 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1998-03-31)
ISBN: 9835600252 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $22.53 Used Price: $28.00
Mainland South-East Asia has a considerable number of ancient cultural centers which are increasingly visited and appreciated by overseas travellers. This volume brings together the most important sites in Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia. The authors describe each site, detail its salient features, and place it in the general context of the country and the region. Copiously illustrated, this book will instruct and engage anyone who works or travels in the region.
Author: Jacques Dumarcay, Michael Smithies
Hardcover:
156 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1996-02-08)
ISBN: 9676530700 List Price: $55.00 Amazon Price: Used Price: $103.43
"A wartime twist of fate resulted in a rare eyewitness account of Southeast Asia's most esoteric female performers: the dancers of the ancient Cambodian ballet. More than 30 years after the Khmer Rouge genocide their intriguing story will be published as Earth in Flower."
Mystical Origins Since the dawn of recorded history, Khmer royalty nurtured a dance style unique to their Asian kingdom, yet instantly recognizable throughout the world. Spiritually, the graceful dancers embody the essence and strength of the Khmer race.
Analysis of a Hidden Art Earth in Flower thoroughly covers choreography, musicology, costuming and stagecraft. The surprise is learning how these women profoundly affected Asian history for a millennium, as living goddesses, priestesses, queens, concubines, hostages and diplomats.
Extraordinary Access A twist of fate gave the author rare access to the formerly sequestered troupe of royal dancers, teachers, theater and archives. Earth in Flower offers new insights into this beautiful art, its long-hidden history, and how the dancers balance the Khmer relationship between heaven and earth.
A Wartime Twist of Fate In 1970, a military coup deposed King Sihanouk and seized control of the royal dancers. Surrounded by war, scholars sought to document this cultural treasure by engaging researcher Paul Cravath. He arrived as a circle of war gripped the capital city, becoming one of the only Westerners in history to gain firsthand access to the dancers.
Lost Heritage Restored In April 1975 Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, initiating one of the worst genocides in human history. Cravath escaped Phnom Penh only ten days earlier, with his research intact. The archives he accessed were destroyed. Most of the dancers perished in the Killing Fields. Earth in Flower is his historic account of their Cambodian legacy.
Author: Paul Cravath
Hardcover:
544 pages
Company: DatASIA, Inc.
(2008-05-30)
ISBN: 1934431281 List Price: $128.00 Amazon Price: $128.00
This is a compilation of descriptions of Siam from the end of the last century. It contains excerpts and summaries of some well-known and some practically unknown published and unpublished reports by travellers largely sympathetic to Siam and the Siamese. An enjoyable and well edited volume, with accompanying engravings.
Author: George B. Bacon
Paperback:
296 pages
Company: Orchid Press
(2006-09-25)
ISBN: 9748304744 List Price: $23.00 Amazon Price: $13.72 Used Price: $12.99
Author: Peter Paul Van Dijk, Jarujin Nabhitabhata, Dumthorn Thirakhupt
Paperback:
144 pages
Company: Ralph Curtis Publishing
(1998-07)
ISBN: 0883590433 List Price: $15.95 Amazon Price: $29.50 Used Price: $16.00
First published in 1875, this is the first part of a volume which also includes travels in China. This volume describes John Thomson's travels in Malaya--from Penang to Singapore--Siam, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Thomson's observations are acute, his style easy, and the whole makes very agreeable and entertaining reading. Balmer focuses the reader's attention on Thomson's role as one of the first photographers of the region; indeed, during his visit to Bangkok he was summoned to the Royal Palace to take the King's portrait and the portraits of other members of the Royal Family.
Author: John Thomson
Hardcover:
246 pages
Company: Oxford University Press, USA
(1993-03-25)
ISBN: 0195886003 List Price: $88.95 Amazon Price:
Author: Douglas D. Anderson
Hardcover:
86 pages
Company: Univ Museum Pubns
(1990-12)
ISBN: 0924171022 List Price: $25.00 Amazon Price: $25.00 Used Price: $15.00
The primary audience for this report is managers involved with the highest levels of the strategic planning process, and consultants who help their clients with this task. The user will not only benefit from the hundreds of hours that went into the methodology and its application, but also from its alternative perspective on strategic planning in Thailand.
This report helps executives evaluate strategic investment and entry alternatives in Thailand. In order to evaluate Thailand, Icon Group International, Inc. draws on a methodology developed by Professor Philip Parker at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. The methodology decomposes a country's strategic potential along two key dimensions: (1) latent demand, and (2) accessibility. A country may have very high latent demand, yet have low accessibility, making it a less attractive market than many smaller potential countries having higher levels of accessibility.
This report provides a strategic profile of Thailand along these lines. Throughout the discussion, literally hundreds of statistics on Thailand are benchmarked against regional and global averages. The reader can thus quickly understand where Thailand fits into the regional and global perspective. The report first investigates the economic fundamentals affecting Thailand. These fundamentals are the source for Thailand's latent demand. Then, the subsequent chapters detail Thailand's accessibility. This evaluation covers a number of entry alternatives, including export strategies, and local direct investment strategies. If a firm decides to have a local presence in Thailand, this requires a strategic understanding of local business conditions. The conditions investigated in this report include local marketing (advertising, distribution, pricing issues) and entry strategies (opening an office, joint venturing, etc.), as well as human resources management (labor laws, costs, regulations). Because...
Author: The Construction Research Group
Ring-bound:
143 pages
Company: Icon Group International, Inc.
(1999-07-08)
(2005-09-30)
ISBN: 0741807092 List Price: $99.95 Amazon Price: $72.96
A fabulous new addition to the series that includes Things Korean and Things Japanese, Things Thai presents 62 everyday items from Thailand. Each object-including religious and devotional items, household objects, food and farming implements, clothing, and craftwork--tells a story that represents the Thai lifestyle. Beautifully photographed, accompanied by detailed text offering an explanation of its history and cultural significance, each item illustrates an important piece of Thai custom and culture. From distinctive design motifs, including Sangkhalok, Celadon, and Bencharong ware, to devotional objects inspired by Theravada Buddhism, Things Thai will take you on a tour of the art, design, and everyday life of Thailand.
Author: Tanistha Dansilp, Michael Freeman
Hardcover:
144 pages
Company: Periplus Editions
(2001-12-01)
ISBN: 9625937765 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $17.53 Used Price: $12.49
This volume deals with a unique group of stone sculptures, representations of the Buddha's Wheel of the Law, found in present-day Thailand that date from about the seventh-eighth centuries CE. The book places these sculptures in their historical, religious, and art historical contexts to determine what they meant to the culture (called Dvaravati) that produced them. Thus, other art historical material associated with the Wheels, including stone deer, Buddha images, and stupas, are discussed. Of greatest importance is how these sculptures relate to both the art in Cambodia and that in India, and to determine what these relationships can tell us about the process (called Indianization) by which Indian culture, religion, and art were adapted in Southeast Asia.
Author: Robert L. Brown
Hardcover:
237 pages
Company: Brill Academic Publishers
(1996-02)
ISBN: 9004104356 List Price: $298.00 Amazon Price: $287.17 Used Price: $235.00
Author: Australia) R.M.I.T. Faculty of Art Gallery (Melbourne
Paperback:
28 pages
Company: RMIT Faculty of Art Gallery
(1984)
ISBN: 0864440650 List Price: Amazon Price:
The author discusses the theatre, its social function in the village community, and the main characters. She compares old and contemporary sets of the small leather figures. Illustrated with translated dialogue and objects from Musee de l'Homme, Paris. Bulletin 342
Over the past two decades, the urban landscapes in Thailand have undergone dramatic changes, epitomized by the case of Bangkok, which has grown from a medium-sized capital city into a megalopolis. In this metamorphosis, Architects 49, founded in 1983, has played a considerable role from the very beginning, by the sheer volume of the firm's achievements. Architects 49, a rather large-scale firm, has for almost twenty years been involved in a wide range of projects, varying in types and sizes, comprising individual dwellings, golf clubs, small, medium-sized and tall office buildings, commercial centers, museums, stadiums, university faculty complexes, etc. Nithi Sthapitanonda, president and founder of Architects 49 has lead the firm to win several gold medals for best architectural design from the Association of Siamese Architects.
Author: Images Publishing Group
Hardcover:
256 pages
Company: Images Publishing Dist A/C
(2006-07-19)
ISBN: 1876907096 List Price: $65.00 Amazon Price: $39.67 Used Price: $35.00
Thai ecclesiastical ceramic wares from the 14th to the 16th centuries are analyzed from a historical and cultural perspective in this study. A systematic analysis of the pieces and their role in local Buddhist and animist religious ceremonies is contextualized with background on Thailand's history, politics, and cultural practices. Various cultures that influenced the form, function, and design of these wares are discussed with comparisons made to similar products from other Asian cultures, including Cambodia, China, and India.
Hardcover:
320 pages
Company: Sun Tree Publishing
(2004-09-28)
ISBN: 9810507364 List Price: $120.00 Amazon Price: $287.46 Used Price: $170.90
Shopping Guide 
From the beaches of the south to the mountains of the north, Thailand is a beautiful and diverse land. Thailand: The Golden Kingdom encapsulates Thai history, culture, and art in one compact volume. It gives an endearing portrait of Thailand's multi-ethnic population, the people's beliefs and ways of life and sets it in an historical and cultural context. Over 140 stunning color photographs illustrate the clear, insightful text about all aspects of one of Asia's most fascinating places.
Hardcover:
301 pages
A companion volume to John Peacock's 20th Century Fashion and Men's Fashion, Fashion Accessories is the most comprehensive record ever published of fashion accessories throughout the twentieth century. More than 2000 full-color drawings--the result of extensive research into paintings, photographs, and the accessories themselves--reproduce each original item in meticulous detail, accompanied by a complete description. The book covers every kind of high-fashion male and female accessory for both day and evening wear: hats and caps; shoes, boots, slippers, and sandals; bags and purses; umbrellas and parasols; jewelry; scarves, stoles, and capes; gloves and belts; cravats, ties, and bow-ties. It includes a wide range of streetwear and sportswear, from baseball caps to plastic sandals, and every variety of the ubiquitous late-century sports shoe. All the century's archetypal accessories are identified, from the luxurious ostrich-feather and flower-bedecked hat of the 1910s and the cloche and pearl necklace of the 1920s, to the velvet scarf and mini-backpack of the 1990s. A final reference section contains a comprehensive bibliography and a chart that shows at a glance how accessories have evolved since 1900. There are biographies of the century's most influential accessories designers, from Salvatore Ferragamo and Manolo Blahnik to Patrick Cox and Georgina von Etzdorf, plus short histories of companies and firms that have played an important role in accessory design. For fashion enthusiasts, historians, and collectors, as well as designers working in the performing arts, this book will be the definitive reference work on twentieth-century accessories. Over 2000 color illustrations.
Once revered as semidivine beings and collaborators in the hard work of transporting goods and materials, Thailand's elephants have fallen on hard times. With the destruction of their forested habitats, a consequent nationwide ban on hardwood logging, and the decline of traditional agriculture in the rapidly urbanizing country, their numbers have declined from tens of thousands just a decade ago to only a few thousand today. Many of the surviving elephants have been put to work in traveling circuses or used for black-market labor, subject to overwork and all manner of abuse.
For several years, Thai women have been well on their way to becoming international celebrities. The cheerful attitude, the graceful movement, the charming smile, the gentle nature, the lovely figure, the total lack of self-pity. All this and more seems to have combined into a Siamese bewitchment captivating men of almost every nationality. For many, the mention of Thai women conjures up the stereotype of unbridled sensuality in the lush Tropics. But in pictures and in text, Thailand: Land of Beautiful Women attempts to delve deeper into the reasons for their phenomenal popularity.
A detailed, profusely illustrated survey of Thai architecture with its many styles and forms.
An intimate photographic portrait of a spiritual, colorful, and exotic country, Thailand introduces readers to the brilliant color, vibrant multi-faceted culture, deep-seated spirituality, remarkable architecture, and hospitable people who have, for centuries, made Thailand a magnet for travelers from around the world. Gorgeous photographs depict iconic Thai imagery that convey the splendor and unrivaled beauty of this ancient land. From the bustle of modern-day Bangkok to serene temples and pristine beaches, this volume takes readers on a memorable journey through a truly exotic land.
Thailand's majestic capital has spectacular Buddhist statues, unique cultural experiences, and a wonderful variety of natural colors. In Bangkok: City of Angels, Bill Wassman's camera brings us exquisite portraits and views of Bangkok's people, places, and a host of other delights. More than 140 stunning color photographs, backed by Joe Cummings' lucid and insightful writing, show clearly why Thailand's heartbeat continues to enchant and beguile all who visit her.
From its early beginnings as a 5th-century Lawa walled city through the recent boom in residential and commercial design, the temple-studded city of Chiang Mai has become an inspiration for architects and designers. Nestled in a mountain valley in Thailand’s far north, Chiang Mai has long been a haven for artists and artisans who have taken inspiration from Burmese, Chinese, northern Thai, Shan, Thai Lu, hill-tribe and European sources, then fused them into a uniquely Chiang Mai art and culture. This cross-fertilisation of ideas owes much to the city’s history as a vital midway point for mule caravan routes between China and the Gulf of Martaban; even with the demise of the caravan trade it has remained a major supplier of arts and crafts to the world. 
The Honda Collection is one of the finest private collections of South-East Asian ceramics ever assembled, including over 350 pieces that span some 4,000 years from the Neolithic period to the seventeenth century. This English edition of the collection catalogue includes over 300
Author: Santi Leksukhum, Sankti Leksukhum
Author: Philip Cornwel-Smith
Thailand's cultural heritage is rich with holidays and festivals. Religious, royal, and agricultural holidays and cultural festivals all contribute to a kaleidoscope of colorful activities that have long captured the hearts of the local people as well as the interest of visitors. This
This volume brings together two decades of research into the process of commercialization of the folk crafts of Thailand: the conditions of its emergence, the parties involved in its development, the changes in the processes and organization of production which accompany it, and the transformations in appearance and meaning which the products undergo as a result of their commercialization.
In his lavishly illustrated new study, Henry Ginsburg describes a wide range of Thai manuscripts and other documents in European and North American collections, discussing each in its religious and historical context. 
Author: Steve Van Beek
Author: John Clark
Author: Taveepong Limapornvanich, William Warren
Author: David Devoss
Modern architecture is a creation of the West. In a non-Western context, it normally reflects a direct intervention of Western powers through colonization. Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is an exception. Thai people have argued that they adopted and assimilated modern architecture into their unique cultural tradition without being physically colonized.
This massive and comprehensive volume is the culminating publishing event of the author's lengthy and meticulous research into Khmer mythology, its messages and meanings. From around 800 to 1300, the Khmer empire stretched across a vast swath of Southeast Asia ; its powerful rulers built magnificent temples to glorify their reigns, and adorned them with carved stone work of immense size, complexity, and artistry. In statuary, myriad pediments and lintels, and many miles of bas-relief walls were portrayed the lives and legends of Hindu gods, adopted and transformed from Indian sources, and Buddhist themes. Professor Roveda has previously published on the motifs and mythology of the Khmer stonework in the Angkor area; this monumental volume incorporates that work as well as his researches on the great Khmer monuments flung across Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, and is illustrated with over 1800 color images in text and on a supplementary CD.
This richly illustrated, very readable book presents a survey of early Thai art within the context of recent art research. These extraordinary glimpses into Thailand's once hidden past have remained hidden and disconnected until recently. Here in one volume is a comprehensive survey over three and a half millennia of art that has led toward the formation of the modern Thai nation.
Between 1880 and 1930 Thai law was modernised. Using the French civil code as their model, the kings of Siam recast traditional Thai law into western form. This book describes Thai law as it was before 1880. For at least five-hundred years-- perhaps nearer a thousand years the Thai have used written lawbooks. During the last twenty years Thai scholars have systematically searched for these lawbooks through the book chests of monasteries. As a result there is now a very large number of legal manuscripts available for study. In this book six experts describe the new discoveries and assess how far our view of traditional Thai law has to change. The essays have a regional focus, dealing with the Northern Thai traditions of Lanna, the provincial cities of central Thailand, the Southern Kingdom based on Nakhon Si Thammarat, the law texts of Laos, the new discoveries in Burma and finally with Bangkok and its famous Three Seals Code
Author: Etienne Aymonier, Walter E. J. Tips
Author: William Warren, Jean-Michel Beurdeley
The fascinating area of Southeast Asia known as the Golden Triangle is home to six culturally distinct peoples--the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu--who struggle in a hostile environment to maintain the integrity of their beliefs, customs, and way of life against all the pressures of the rapidly changing society around them. Paul and Elaine Lewis spent decades living and working with the tribes of Northern Thailand. The results of their experience and research are gathered in this book, along with more than seven hundred photographs--most of them in color. Here we see not merely the demanding landscape in which these peoples live, but their ceremonies and rituals, their clothing and ornamentation, their houses and villages, and the impressive skills that they exhibit in crafts such as jewelry, textiles, and basketmaking.
120 color and black-and-white photographs
Author: Fine Art Publishing
Bangkok Design is the first book of its kind, exploring the acclaimed new furnishings from Thailand and the inspiration behind them. This book profiles 36 of the best Thai designers, showing how they translate their own culture and personal experiences into original products. This group explores a wide variety of styles-minimal, expressionist, modernist, neo-traditional, retro and pop-but each designer has an individual signature. 
Author: Philip S. Rawson
Brings together for the first time diverse aspects of caves in northern Thailand with chapters on geology, archaeology and much more.
Buddhist temple murals have been a vital form of religious expression in Thailand for centuries. In this lively, slim volume, historian David Wyatt takes a peek behind the scenes to investigate the wider meanings hidden within the beautiful, elaborately painted images that adorn Thai temples. Wyatt shows how a sensitive reading of these "texts" from the past can reveal fascinating new insights into the psyche and history of Thai communities.
A handy, pocket sized field guide to Thailand's birds featuring excellent color photographs and brief accounts for 252 different species. Each species account contains information useful to identifying each bird, while color coded "thumb tabs" assist in quickly locating specific species accounts. A must have item for any bird watcher planning a visit to Thailand. Illustrated with over 250 color photos,
Author: Karl Doehring, Karl Dohring, Walter E. J. Tips
Paperback:
329 pages
For centuries, Bangkok, Thailand's capital, was a city of boats. To travel from one part of Bangkok to another, the Thai paddled along the Menam river and its' canals. But late in the 19th century, the people adopted Western habits and modernized the city, accordingly. The new city surrounded by high walls has been laid out around the royal palace and the encompassing parks. The modern aspect of Bangkok offers an eclectic contrast to the four hundred Buddhist temples, adorned with gilded spires and roofs of carved teakwood.
This comprehensive and attractive reference is divided into four parts: the historical and cultural background; the analysis of Northern Buddha images, including iconography, style, techniques, and dating; the types of Northern Buddha images; and associated Buddhist sculpture, such as footprints and mythical creatures. The Buddha images are classified by style and date, using those images with inscribed dates as the armature around which to cluster the undated statues. The images are analyzed in detail and placed in their historical, cultural, and religious context. Richly illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this volume is an indispensable reference and guide to Buddha images and other Buddhist sculpture of Northern Thailand.
Written by a member of the Thai Royal Family, this is the first book to present a complete history of votive tablets in Thailand, covering their production from the sixth century AD to their present day manifestation in the popular practice of wearing amulets.
Author: Helmut Jahn, Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler
Mainland South-East Asia has a considerable number of ancient cultural centers which are increasingly visited and appreciated by overseas travellers. This volume brings together the most important sites in Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia. The authors describe each site, detail its salient
"A wartime twist of fate resulted in a rare eyewitness account of Southeast Asia's most esoteric female performers: the dancers of the ancient Cambodian ballet. More than 30 years after the Khmer Rouge genocide their intriguing story will be published as Earth in Flower."
This is a compilation of descriptions of Siam from the end of the last century. It contains excerpts and summaries of some well-known and some practically unknown published and unpublished reports by travellers largely sympathetic to Siam and the Siamese. An enjoyable and well edited volume, with accompanying engravings.
Author: Peter Paul Van Dijk, Jarujin Nabhitabhata, Dumthorn Thirakhupt
The primary audience for this report is managers involved with the highest levels of the strategic planning process, and consultants who help their clients with this task. The user will not only benefit from the hundreds of hours that went into the methodology and its application, but also from its alternative perspective on strategic planning in Thailand.
