|
|
| Weekend Getaways | Services |
 |
| Introduction | ||||
| Accommodation | ||||
| Jim Thompson - Bangkok/Thailand | ||||||
|
For his contribution to the development of the Thai Silk industry, Jim Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, a decoration bestowed upon foreigners for having rendered exceptional service to Thailand. Thompson's success story in Thailand has become one of the most popular postwar legends of Asia. In 1967, Jim Thompson went on holiday with friends to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. There he set out for a walk in the surrounding jungle but never returned. Thus began the Jim Thompson legend. Since his disappearance in 1967, little has changed in the home that was the 'talk of the town' and the 'city's most celebrated social center'. Even today, the charming Thai style house continues to be a key stop for visitors to Bangkok. The house consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses, teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought to the present location from various parts of Thailand. Construction of the Thai house was completed in 1959. The Jungle landscape At the end of a non-descript lane, a backdrop of dense foliage is visible in the distance. Drawing near, the distinctive features of a Thai style house soon appear in full view. Jim Thompson's Thai house stands on one 'rai' of land, (equivalent to approximately half an acre) and is enveloped by beautifully landscaped gardens. Thompson found the haphazard look of nature's lush tropical jungles appealing. This jungle landscape in the midst of the city gives the house its unique appeal. Nostagic Appeal of the Location Thompson was deeply captivated by the nostalgic charm of old, and more simple Bangkok. The enchanting aspects of life along the klong or waterways, fascinated him. Wooden houses, some in the traditional Thai style, in the cool shade of trees lining the river banks, their branches arching over across the klong. The daily traffic - boats plying up and down the waterway selling their wares. Thompson had had his eye on this piece of land by Klong Maha Nag and just across from the weaving village of Ban Krua that he visited every morning. It was a piece of land that had once been part of the vast compound of a summer palace. Though the land is right in the heart of the city (a block away from the National Stadium), it retains a flavor of its country past. With city noises muted by the trees and by the klong, the pace seems visibly slower. The location has its appeal. Acquiring the Land According to Thai Law, foreigners may purchase up to one rai (approximately half an acre) of land for residential purposes provided that there is a reciprocal arrangement for Thai citizens in the buyer's home country or state. Fortunately for Thompson, Delaware met this requirement. The James H.W. Thompson Foundation In 1976, the Court-appointed administrator for the property of Jim Thompson received permission from government ministries of the Kingdom of Thailand to establish a foundation bearing Jim Thompson's name. Accordingly, the property was vested in the Foundation, and the house and art collection are now officially registered as a national museum. By virtue of the dictates of its charter and the abiding interests of Jim Thompson, the Foundation dedicates and commits itself to the preservation and conservation of Thailand's rich cultural heritage. Thai Architectural Style In spite of the influence of other great cultures of the world such as Indian, Chinese, Khmer as well as Burmese, being incorporated in its decorative elements, the architectural style of Thai homes remains relatively simple. Its primary characteristics are determined by local climatic conditions, the availability of building materials, and the needs of the people, the majority of whom pursued an agricultural based lifestyle. Wood was readily available so it was the most common material used in the construction of these houses. For the more affluent, the use of hard and durable teakwood from the forests of the north was prevalent. Fascinating Aspect of the Thai Style House Historically, the religious and domestic architecture of Thailand shared some common characteristics. Like temples, Thai houses have steep roofs arching upwards towards the sky. Both the walls are inclined towards the center creating the illusion of height. There is a functional aspect behind this design and structural element. Hot air rises so the height of the roof keeps the house cool. Additionally a great number of windows and doors are carefully aligned to facilitate an uninterrupted flow and aid the circulation of air. Walls were generally left unpainted, though sometimes oiled. In the hot and humid tropical climate, the airy, open quality of a Thai house and the broad overhangs of its roof protect the interior from both sun and rain. Elevated houses facilitate the circulation of air and offered a more comfortable living space. It was cooler to live in and protected the home from the risk of floods in the monsoon season. It also offered protection from hostile wildlife. The open space beneath the house was versatile. It was used as a living area in the hot season, as storage for the season's harvest, and as a place to keep livestock. Construction of Thai House Thompson noted that many of the fine old houses in existence were still in excellent condition in spite of their age of a hundred years or more . He thus decided to purchase several old houses and reassemble them. The original Jim Thompson house and outbuildings were re-constructed from all or parts of six separate old houses that were brought from various parts of the country to the present location. The Drawing Room
The oldest part of the main house is an early 19th century
house from the silk weaving village of Ban Krua, across the klong. This
became the Drawing Room. A glittering crystal chandelier from a former palace hangs from the high ceiling. Burmese figurines of "nat" or good spirits from Amarapura decorate the niches, which were originally window The Kitchen The next oldest part is the kitchen wing which also came from the weaving village. Dated from the middle of the 19th century, it had been part of an old palace which had been sold and moved to Ban Krua fifty years before. For the remaining structures, Thompson's search took him to the province of Ayutthaya, upriver from Bangkok. He eventually found most of what he needed in a village called "Pak Hai", northwest of the former capital. The houses were taken down, neatly stacked on barges and brought by river and klong directly to the construction site in Bangkok. Art & Unique Collection On his final journey through the Far East in 1959 , Somerset Maugham made stops in destinations that were the setting for his stories and novels written in the 1920s and '30s. He was a guest for dinner at Jim Thompson's celebrated Thai house -- then less than a year old. Despite its personal appeal, "Thompson came to conceive of the collection as something more than a personal affair. He began to look upon it as one way of preserving a few of the country's treasures from possible loss and destruction." Thompson's extensive art and antique collection is predominantly of Asian origin and can be broadly classified into 4 main categories. These are: Sculpture:
ust of Buddha in brown limestone from the Lopburi region - Dvaravati School, 8th century. The wide face with a strong nose and fleshy lips, round eyes and arched and joined eyebrows are very characteristic of the Dvaravati School. Head of Buddha in beige sandstone, Ayutthaya School, U-Thong style, end of the 13th century. The hairstyle of small curls topped by a flame-decorated ornament, finely edged. A wide face with a strong chin, a wide mouth, slightly arched brows, and half-closed eyes convey serenity. All of these characteristics are evidence of close links with the Lopburi School. Paintings
Upon his arrival in Bangkok, the traditional Thai
paintings were among the first works of art to catch his attention. This
art form, largely unknown in the West, was in danger of being extinct in Paintings in the Thompson collection are on cloth, paper and wood. Most are on cotton and range from fairly small to tapestry size. The subject matter generally related to either the life of Buddha or the popular legend of Prince Vessantara, who attained enlightenment after having given up his worldly possessions, his wife and children The Picture Gallery, a single old Thai house, was built by Thompson to house an unusual collection of Thai paintings he had discovered in Connecticut, where they had been for almost a hundred years Porcelain It was some time before Thompson's interest in porcelains began to evolve.
Thompson subsequently decided to concentrate on lesser
known Chinese export ware, mainly blue and The Chinese collection features items ranging from the Sung Dynasty to the 19th century. The majority are the Ming period blue and white export ware, described above. Several pieces originate from Ayutthaya where they were imported from China during the 15th - 17th centuries. Sukhothai and Sawankalok are names given to Thai ceramics produced in the in the 14th and 15th century or Sukhothai period and reflect the techniques taught by Chinese potters who were brought to the Kingdom of Siam by King Ramkamhaeng. The name ' Benjarong ' in Thai originates from the Sanskrit words 'paunch' meaning five and 'rang' meaning colors. It refers to a special classification of fine porcelain featuring various traditional Thai design elements presented as a composition of the five primary colors - red, blue, green, yellow and black - also known as pentachromatic porcelain. The Other Collective Item 17th century French map of the Kingdom of Siam and the neighboring countries. A quaint little 19th century house in which white mice were kept as pets. White mice running about in the mouse house would keep the children entertained for hours on end. Opening Hours : 09:00 to 17:00 everyday with the last Guided Tour at 17:00* How to Reach Located in the center of Bangkok, it is conveniently reached by car, taxi, Tuk tuk, or the Sky Train (Bangkok Transit System).
Contact:
Jim Thompson House
|
|
The
Jim Thompson House is the home of
Buddha
meditating on a naga (serpent). Carved from beige sandstone, the 80cm.
tall statue is of the Lopburi School - 13thcentury and came
from the Supanburi Province in Thailand. The thoughtful face with closed
eyes helps to identify the piece as being an example of Bayon art.
Thailand itself.
white porcelain, of which numerous pieces had found their way to
Thailand in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.