King Ramkhamhaeng the Great's reign saw a golden age for Sukhothai's political and artistic development, including development of a Thai alphabet. On his second visit to China in 1300 he brought back craftsmen to boost the develop of ceramics and the city became a major exporter of pottery and developed distinctive styles which are still made today. Sukothai ceramics can be distinguished by their unique decorative character.  Dense fish and floral decoration formed by rough brush strokes or a single fish decorations in black or brown on a buff slip but with clear glaze which stops before reaching the bottom of the dishes are typical of Sukhothai styles.. Dishes are quite thick and the buff slip was intended to cover the grayish body fabric. Marks from the feet of disk supports are observable inside the dishes. Sukhothai ware were found in the Khram (Sattahip) and Prasae wrecks. The Sukhothai wares in the wrecks were mostly in bowl and plate form. Best known is celadon, a glazed jade green, dark green, brown and cobalt blue porcelain made into statues, lamps, and ashtrays distinguished by their glazed surfaces. Sawankhaloke brown pottery with its twin fish originated in the 13th century town near Sukhothai. Blue-and-white porcelain includes pots, lamps, household items and figurines. Around 1300, Sukothai established itself as one of the more important Thai kingdoms. The quality of the ceramics improved during this period and the demand for fine ceramics, from ceremonial use to building materials increased greatly. There were kilns at various places like Pa Yang, Goh Noi, Sukothai Town, Pitsanuloke and Nakorn Thai. In some of these places, historians found many kilns, especially at Goh Noi, the oldest site. It is estimated that there were between 600 to 800 kilns built thoughout this region. Two museums in the region emphasise social and cultural history. Sawankhalok Woranayok National Museum, 38 km north of Sukhothai between the Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai Historical Parks, has exhibitions of sculptures from different periods and displays of Sukhothai period ceramics. Local craftsmen have maintained traditional handicraft skills and designs over the centuries. In Si Satchanalai craftsmen continue to make traditional ornaments of gold and silver. In Phitsanulok, the Sergeant-Major Dr Thawi-Pim Buranaket Folklore Museum, opposite the Buranathai Buddha Image Foundry, is well known for its collections of folk-arts, crafts, basketry, pottery, ancient kitchen utensils and agricultural and household tools. Around 1986 a Mr. Sakorn of Moo Ban Si Nakorn (a nearby village) returned to Si Satchanalai after having learned the art of goldsmithing in Chiang Mai. He introduced a new style of goldmaking to the local crafts community, based on Sukhothai models.  This is not the ordinary style of gold craftwork, commonly sold elsewhere. Golden ornaments are fashioned by local hand weaving. The goldsmith usually copies the traditional designs found from ruins and artefacts in the area of Sri Satchanalia Historical Park. The silver ornaments found in Sri Satchanalai are distinguished and different in that they have their own designs and are handwoven - the same as the golden ornaments, only using silver instead of gold.  On the Sukhothai-Si Satchanalai Highway, north of Sukhothai city, there are jewelry shops scattered along the highway for several kilometers, and more shops in villages off the main road in this region. They cater mainly to Thai customers, as none of the signs are in any other language.  Most shops have their factories on the premises, so one can watch goldsmiths at work. Some of the shops advertise that their gold is 99.99% pure, but some of them are selling less pure gold (92% to 96%). In fact, most gold sold in Thailand is 23K or 96.5% gold, the minimum recognized by the Ministry of Industry as being standard gold. Textile weaving is believed to have widely existed. Sukhothai textiles were of cotton and silk and used five colors called Pha Benjarong. They were Pha Pat, Pha Lek Lok, Pha Nong, Pha Krob. It is believed that the fabrics for ordinary people were made outside of Sukhothai. But fabrics for the royal court may have been woven by court weavers, and some may have been imported form China, India, or Persia. During the Sukhothai Period, about 700 years ago, besides the ordinary coloured ones, a five-colour fabric was produced - commonly known as Pha Benjarong. Different groups of people then produced their own fabrics; court people, for example, would make fabrics for themselves and ordered some fabrics from abroad. As history has it, silk began to be imported from China during that time. Besides clothing, people began to use fabrics for other purposes such as home decoration (long flags) and other household items (pillows, mattresses, curtains). In the village of Hadsiao, colourful hand-woven fabrics are made using ancient designs. The local people of Hadsiao village have conserved long lasting typical cloth made with colorful and different designs, and produce various styles of cloth for sale. Interested tourists are welcome to visit the many retail shops, especially in the village itself. Area Map Map of Sawankhalok Top HOME I LOCATION I ROOMS I FACILITIES I RESERVATIONS I CONTACT I LINKS I COPYRIGHT SUKHOTHAI HISTORICAL PARK I SI SATCHANALAI HISTORICAL PARK I LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL I ARTS & CRAFTS