Production of Benjarong is a process known to only a handful of families in Thailand which have passed it down through generations spanning many centuries. The intricacies of how it is made, the mixing of colours and how the patterns and paints are applied, are a tightly held secret. We, as a distributor of Benjarong, are only allowed to provide our customers with the information you find below.
The basic white bone china and porcelain is mostly hand made. After firing it is hand polished, a lengthy process but which is critical to the success of the later decoration stages. A thin layer of white paint is applied followed by further firing to give a glazed appearance.
Drawing
The process begins with the drawing of circular guide lines on the bone
china or Thai porcelain on a turning wheel, which is turned by the artists
hand. Whilst the craftsman is drawing on the design he will keep a matching
item with the same pattern in front of him so he can compare. The initial
pattern drawing is crucial to how the design will turn out, so is done by
a master craftsman who will have many years of experience. The pattern is
drawn in very fine lines on each piece.
Painting
Benjarong was traditionally painted from rim to base in symmetrical patterns. Originally only 5 colours were used and this is where the name 'Benjarong' comes from, meaning '5 colours'. However, up to 14 colours or shades are now used to improve variety in the patterns. The paint is made from mineral colours which are crushed and mixed in water. The paints, including the 18 carat gold paint, are applied in layers with brushes varying in thickness and each one is used for only one colour. Having completed the final stages of applying the colours, the 18 carat gold is added to the rims. Designs using gold are called Lai Nam Thong in Thai. This style was developed under the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910).
Firing
The finished Benjarong pieces are fired in the kiln for 10 hours at 800 degrees C. The kilns are very small so they are only able to fire a few pieces at a time. The pieces must be put in the kiln 5 times. The temperature and the firing-cooling time is electronically controlled, thus there are hardly any pieces rejected. Once the pieces have been fired and removed from the kiln one can see the 3 dimensional bubble of paint on the surface, which is what makes this style of Benjarong so unique.
Quality Control
At each stage in the process the strictest quality control procedures are employed. The slightest mistake in any of the processes would ruin the design and will lead to rejection, it must be perfect in every respect. Once the Benjarong pieces have been taken from the kiln they are thoroughly inspected again. Any smudging or running of the paint means the piece is either sent back to the studio to be redone or it is thrown away. Very rarely does this happen due to the quality and patience of the artists in observing the time it takes to make each individual piece.
Extra Information
Benjarong is an enamel overglaze process painted on bone china and Thai porcelain. Enamel is a non-organic compound which becomes a glass matrix when fired. The finish never fades and is strong enough to resist scratching, fading or staining. The entire surface from rim to base is drawn by hand and the colours are painted in one at a time. The 18 carat gold is painted to outline every colour.
A person wishing to make Benjarong pieces must first learn to paint the items. After 3 years of painting they will have a good eye for the patterns that lie underneath the paint and will therefore move on to drawing them. Drawing and painting of Benjarong requires much concentration, accuracy and good eye sight which take years of painstaking effort to master. Only the finest quality of Benjarong is selected and this originates from a small number of the most highly skilled artists. People can start as an artist at 16 years old.
The production of Benjarong is very family orientated. Many members of a single family may be involved at some stage in the production of the pieces, be it drawing, painting or both.
The time it takes to produce Benjarong varies according to what is to be made and the quantity required. A dinner set, for example, could take approximately 8 weeks to produce. The reason is that every piece is painted by the same craftsman to ensure artistic consistency. If the idea of a craftsman producing only 6 dinner sets a year seems ludicrous to the rest of the world, this is traditional craftsmanship at work in Thailand. Would the Kings of old Siam, for whom the original Benjarong was produced, expect anything less?
