FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Surprises at National Museum

Surprises at National Museum

Phoowadon Duangmee, The Nation's travel editor, lures you for a visit

I made it to Bangkok National Museum to see National Treasure Exhibition. The Fine Arts Department brings many rare artifacts, hundreds of them probably, to the public. Some artifacts, dating back 1200 years, are very outstanding.
 
What made it even more special is… you can take photos of all objects.
 
I like a small collection of Dvaravati artifacts, displaying on the left gallery.
 
Rustic and beautiful, many of them are made of clay. I am from Suphanburi. A country boy, I mean. I’m pretty much connected to the earthen stuffs. Red and rough are the texture of Dvaravati artifacts. Many of them are unearthed from historical sites in Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Pachinburi provinces. I keep looking for piece of Dvaravati from Suphanburi – my hometown. No, not even one of them makes it to the exhibition. You have to drive to Uthong National Museum for super-rare Dvaravati artifacts.
 
Here, at the exhibition in Bangkok, I saw “Vishnu of Khao Phra Noe” (mid 7-th Century). I heard about this Vishnu statue while visiting the ancient town of Takola in Phang Nga province last year. Back then (some 1200 years ago), Thailand’s South was, probably, bustling with ancient traders. The Chinese crossed South China Sea, while the Indian braved the high sea of Indian Ocean to trade. Vishnu statue was founded at the mountain in Phang Nga many years ago, and it had been displayed at Thalang National Museum in Phuket since. Now, you can see it in Bangkok.
 
Another piece we often come across in papers or books (but probably never see the original piece) is Avalokitesvara from Suratthani. Yes, it’s here, too, at Bangkok National Museum.
 
Check it out. The museum closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. 
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