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We currently have 31 patterns available for our Benjarong. The selection ranges from the ancient Ming Dynasty designs through to the more modern trellis patterns. Below you will find the history behind the various patterns and additional information.
If you wish to see what a sample Benjarong piece looks like in certain colours please click on the 'pattern selector' link underneath each set of patterns.
Phum
Khao Bin
This pattern dates back to the reign of King Rama
V, King Chulalongkorn 1868-1910. This is the trellis
pattern, made up of the rice motif, a symbol of
the Thai people, in angular gold lines. To draw
this pattern requires a very skillful artist with
excellent eye sight and a steady hand. The Phum
Kao Bin pattern is the original Benjarong design.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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PBOB
Phum Kao Bin
in Original Blue
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PBWB
Phum Kao Bin with fancy colours on White
background
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PBPB
Phum Kao Bin on
Pink background
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PBGB
Phum Kao Bin
on Green background
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PBBP
Phum Kao Bin on Blue background
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Pikul
This pattern originated during the reign of King
Rama II (1809-1824). Pikul is a flower symbolising
the Buddhist lent. The trees that produce this fragrant
flower are often planted in temple grounds. This
trellised pattern, with geometric shapes can often
be seen decorating the walls and ceilings of Thai
temples, including the grand palace and many other
historical buildings. This period could be considered
the birth of "Benjarong", the Thai form
of "5 colour" style of porcelain over
glaze. The Chinese Ming Dynasty "5 colour"
style had a free form painting style of flowers,
butterfly, and birds, while the Thai form developed
into its tighter geometric designs.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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PKGB
Pikul Flower
on Green background
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PKWB
Pikul Flowers with fancy colours on White
background
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PKBB
Pikul Flower
on Blue background
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PKYB
Pikul Flower
on Yellow background
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Chakri
This original daisy floral design dates back to
China. The Thai adaptation with stronger colors
became popular during the reign of King Rama V and
received royal permission to be used with the Chakri
dynasty name. The rounded petals in white surround
the round pollen area in red. The flowers appear
to float, surrounded by the background and leaves.
The leaves are given a delicacy of appearing to
be in motion, blown by the wind.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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CKYB
Chakri Yellow background
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CKBB
Chakri Blue
background
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CKRB
Chakri inside Red and Blue background
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CKGB
Chakri Green background
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CKBP
Chakri inside Black backround
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CKRG
Chakri inside Red on Green backround
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Karn Tor Dok
The Karn Tor Dok pattern is a trellis design with
a dwarf orchid inside. This is an ancient design
originating in the reign of King Rama II (1809-1824).
The overall design was developed to create a continuous
geometric pattern of lines that can be spread over
a large piece. Early orchids were much smaller before
modern large varieties were developed.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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KTGB
Karn Tor Dok
on a Green background
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KTBB
Karn Tor Dok
on a Blue background
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KTYB
Karn Tor Dok
on a Yellow background
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Khao Larm Tad
The Khao Larm Tad pattern is a delicate diamond
pattern with a flame in the middle. This is a relatively
new design, symbolising the multi-faceted brilliance
of diamonds, with a single flame being reflected
to provide light. This is an analogy of Buddhist
thought spreading outward. The design has an effect
similar to impressionist art, where pure colors
are placed next to each other and allowing the eye
to blend the colors. For example: red and yellow
colours placed next to each other appear as orange
depending on how the light is reflected.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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KLBB
Khao Larm Tad
Blue colour
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KLGB
Khao Larm Tad
with soft Green colour
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KLHB
Khao Larm Tad
Honey/Orange colour
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KLRB
Khao Larm Tad
Red colour
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Kradang-Nga
The Kradang-Nga pattern uses the Llang-llang flower
in a swirling pattern of vines and leaves. The Llang-llang
is a very fragrant flower that is used in essential
oil treatments. This design is done using what is
known as a negative painting technique, as the white
foreground is actually unpainted. The background
is the deep blue and the background-foreground play
back and forth.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
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KNBB
Kradang-Nga Llang-Llang
Flower on Blue background
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Dok Mai Khod
This delicate design combines flowers and swirling
vines, with multi-coloured leaves. It is based on
earlier Chinese Ming dynasty designs that were free
flowing designs, each flower, petal and leaf carefully
painted to grade the colours. The black background
pattern has a stronger presence with the warm colours
of the reds and pinks standing out, while the cooler
colours of blues and greens take the middle ground.
The black recedes to create a 3 dimensional design.
Roll over the patterns to see them in finer detail:
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DMWB
Dok Mai Khod
with fancy colours on White background
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DMBB
Dok Mai Khod
with fancy colours on Black background
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Lotus with Golden dots
In Buddhism, the lotus is the most revered flower.
It represents purity, because the flower comes out
cleanly from muddy waters. It also represents a
state of selflessness and nirvana which is the final
stage before entering heaven. Most seated Buddha
images are on a lotus base, especially in the "Touching
Earth" posture when Buddha reaches down with
his right hand and touches the earth with his finger
tips to signify his oneness with it. The scent of
the lotus also signifies religious devotion and
is helpful in meditation. This design is influenced
by the Chinese Ming dynasty form of free-form painting.
It is a modern design produced within a single family,
handed down to 7 sisters who keep the design process
a secret. The golden dots on the white background
will produce a pinkish glow to the background.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
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LTGD
Lotus Flower in fancy colours with Golden dots |
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Butterfly (Broken
mirror background)
This pattern is an original Chinese Ming dynasty
design. The free-form butterfly and flower design
on a white background of gold lines looks like a
broken mirror. The flowers are done in a gradation
of red to pink petals. The stylised butterflies
are in various colours of green, blue, yellow, and
purple.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail.
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BFBM
Butterfly Broken Mirror background |
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Lotus with
Butterfly
This pattern was influenced through a mixture of
Chinese and Thai art. Its aim was to give the design
a religious feel.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
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LBWB
Lotus and Butterfly
White background |
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Kan Khod
The design consists of vines and multiple coloured
leaf patterns in swirls. The leaves curling away
from the vine are called "Kanok". This
motif is used frequently in temple art. The colours
of the leaves are in primary colours of blue, red,
and yellow along with secondary colours of purple
and green. The combination of warm colours and cool
colours give the design a 3 dimentional quality.
The "Kanok" swirls make the leaves look
like flames in the wind.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
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FLBB
Flame
Black background
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Karm Yang
This pattern is based on the Phum Khao Bin design,
but draws upon additional designs with an Indian
influence.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
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KYGB
Karm Yang
on Green background
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Thai Traditional Figures
The Thai Traditional figures patterns consist of
six designs. The artists who draw and paint the
patterns are very skilled and have a free hand on
which designs they put onto a piece. If the piece
is small, such as a napkin ring, only one design
will be drawn and painted on it. If the piece is
large, such as a lamp or vase, then the artist will
blend together several of the Thai Traditional figures
designs. This way each piece is unique. Below we
have listed these six designs and the history behind
them.
Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
Asanha Puja
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The Asanha Puja Day is one
of the sacred days in Buddhism as it marks the coming
into existence of the Triple Gems, namely; the Lord
Buddha, His Teachings and His Disciples. It is an
anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered
the First Sermon to his first five disciples at
the Deer Park in Benares over two thousand five
hundred years ago.
To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists all over
the country perform merit making and observe Silas
(Precepts). Some go to the temples to offer food
and offerings to the monks and also to listen to
a sermon to purify their minds. The Asanha Puja
Day falls on the day preceding the Buddhist Lent
which starts on the first day of the waning moon
of the eighth lunar moon.
The tradition of Buddhist Lent, or the annual three-month
Rains Retreat known in Thai as "Phansa",
dates back to the time of early Buddhism in ancient
India. All holy men, mendicants and sages spent
three months of the annual rainy season in permanent
dwellings. They avoided unnecessary travel during
the period when crops were still new for fear they
might accidentally step on young plants. In deference
to popular opinion, Lord Buddha decreed that his
followers should also abide by this ancient tradition,
thus they began to gather within groups of simple
dwellings.
Buddhist Lent covers a good part of the rainy season
and lasts three lunar months. In Thailand, Buddhist
monks resolve to stay in their temple of choice
and will not take an abode in another temple until
the Lent is over.
The celebration of the beginning of Buddhist Lent
is marked by the ceremony of presenting candles
to the monks. Various institutions eg. Schools and
universities, including public and private organisations
will organise a colourful candle procession leading
to a temple where the offering of the candles will
be made.
Some Buddhist followers consider the beginning of
Buddhist Lent as a time for making resolutions such
as refraining from smoking or observing the five
precepts (Panjasila) throughout the three month
Rains Retreat.
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Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
Loy Krathong
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One of the most popular festivals
in early November is the Loy Krathong Festival.
It takes place at a time when the weather is fine
as the rainy season is over and there is a high
water level all over the country.
"Loy" means "to float" and a
"Krathong" is a Lotus-shaped vessel made
of banana leaves. The Kratong usually contains a
candle, three incense sticks, some flowers and coins.
In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which
people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water.
Thus, by moonlight, people light the candles and
incense sticks, make a wish and launch their Krathongs
on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed
that the Krathongs carry away sins and bad luck,
and the wishes that have been made for the new-year
due to start. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful
and happy as the sufferings are floated away.
The festival starts in the evening when there is
a full moon in the sky. People of all walks of life
carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers. After
lighting candles and incense sticks and making a
wish, they gently place the Krathongs on the water
and let them drift away until they go out of sight.
For visitors to Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival
is an occasion not to be missed. The festival is
listed in the tourist calendar. Everyone is invited
to take part and share the joy and happiness.
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Roll over the pattern to see it in finer detail:
Buddhist
Ordination
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One of the greatest things in the life of a Thai man is
ordination, which is regarded as an act of great
dedication to his parents. It is a Thai custom
for a young man to enter the monk-hood for a certain
period of time in their life, but usually before
marriage as Thai people believe that if a man
enters the monk-hood after marriage his wife will
receive half of the merit instead of his parents
who need most of the merit so that they will go
to heaven after death. To enable their parents
to achieve this goal, most Thai men therefore
take this opportunity to express gratitude to
their parents by entering into the monk-hood after
they reach their 20th birthday.
Though ordination can be performed at any time
of the year, it usually takes place in July or
August which marks the beginning of the rainy
season. During this period monks throughout the
country are committed to stay only in their respective
temples throughout a 3 month Rains-Retreat or
"Khao Phansa".
Indeed, the ordination ceremony is a religious
event in which the entire village takes part.
The participants gain merit by accompanying the
"nak" or the "white robed shaven
headed candidate for monk-hood" in a colourful
procession to the temple. The procession is very
joyous and elegant as the nak's relatives and
friends dance to the music in a festive mood.
In brief, the formal ceremony begins with the
oral examination of the ordainee's qualifications.
Some of the questions to be answered by the ordainee
are: "Are you male?", "Are you
free from debt?", "Have you been given
your parents permission to become a monk?"
All these questions are meant to ensure that the
young man has been relieved of all worldly burdens
so that he can devote his time to religious studies
during this valuable time in his life. After fulfilling
the prescribed regulations, the ordainee will
then be given the yellow robe and hear his first
admonition before becoming a full monk.
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to see it in finer detail:
Rocket Festival
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The Rocket Festival, or "Boon Bang Fai" in Thai,
is usually held in the second week of May at the
beginning of the rainy season. when the farmers
are ready to cultivate their paddy fields. The
festival is popularly celebrated in the northeastern
provinces of Yasothorn and Ubon Ratchathani. The
celebration is an entreaty to the rain god for
plentiful rains during the coming rice planting
season.
The festival owes its beginnings to a legend about
a rain god named Vassakan, who was known for his
fascination of being worshipped with fire. To
receive plentiful rains for rice cultivation,
the farmers sent their home made rockets to the
heavens where the god resided. The festival has
been carried out to this present day.
In the afternoon of the festival day, rockets
are carried in the procession to the launching
site. Villagers dressed in colourful traditional
costumes attract the eyes of the onlookers who
line the procession route.
Before igniting the rockets, there is more singing
and dancing to celebrate the festival. The climax
of the festival is the igniting time. One by one
the rockets are fired from the launching platforms.
Each lift-off is greeted by cheers and noisy music.
The rocket that reaches the greatest height is
the winner, the owners of the rockets that exploded
or failed to fly, are thrown into the mud! The
winner receives small rewards from the onlookers.
The celebration is a communal affair for the villagers
who come together to share happiness and have
fun before heading to the paddy fields.
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to see it in finer detail:
Songkran
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"Songkran" is the Thai traditional New Year festival
and an occasion for family reunion. At this time,
people from the rural areas who are working in
the cities usually return home to celebrate the
festival. Thus, when the time comes, Bangkok temporarily
turns into a deserted city.
The festival normally falls in April and the annual
celebration is held throughout the kingdom. In
fact, "Songkran" is a Thai word meaning
"move" or "change place" as
it is the day when the sun changes its position
in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water
Festival" as people believe that water will
wash away bad luck.
This Thai traditional New Year begins with early
morning merit-making, offering food to Buddhist
monks and releasing caged birds to fly free into
the sky. During this auspicious occasion, any
animals kept will be set free. Paying homage to
one's ancestors is an important part of the day.
People will pay their respects to their elders
by pouring scented water over the palms of their
hands. The elders in return wish their youngsters
good luck and prosperity.
In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite
for Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants
both young and old, joyfully splash water on each
other. The most talked about Songkran celebration
takes place in the northern province of Chiang
Mai. During this period, people from all parts
of the country flock there to enjoy the water
festival, to watch the Miss Songkran contest and
the beautiful parades.
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Roll over the pattern
to see it in finer detail:
Thai Desserts
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The wide variety of Thai desserts is evidence of the ingenuity of the Thai's ancestors who made abundant use of the land producing grains, bulbs, eggs and sugar. They invented their desserts on a trial and error basis, adjusting the taste to please their palate. Once they arrived at the best ingredients, the resulting recipes were passed on from generation to generation as part of their cultural heritage.
The beauty of Thai desserts rests not only with their exquisite shapes, which are crafted and designed carefully with the rich imagination of their inventors, but also important, is the colour and smell. The colours used are selected from nature; green from the butterfly pea and yellow from tumeric. To attain their sweet fragrance, scented candles or flowers like llang-llang, jasmines and roses are added to Thai desserts when they are served.
Thai desserts are available in hundreds of varieties, both indigenous and those adopted from foreign desserts brought into ancient Siam by foreigners on their merchandise-laden boats. The cooking methods, too, are equally varied. They can be boiled, steamed, deep-fried, grilled, caramelized, sugar coated, smoked or griddled. In addition, Thai people also make different desserts for different festivals. For example, for a festival in October, villagers in the central plain make a dessert known as Krayasart, as an offering to the monks. In the northeastern region, sticky rice with a banana filling is made during the Boon-Knao-Sark festival, also held in the middle of October.
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