Research & Article

The recreation of the Thai masterpiece of lacquer arts, the 263-year-old mother-of-pearl inlay door panels of the Scripture Hall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Ho Phra Montien Tham, , was initiated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2007, after she observed that the doors had been worn out from years of exposure to sunlight and rain. The princess said restoration must be conducted to ensure that the artistic beauty of such national treasures will be seen by future generations of Thais. The Offi  ce of Traditional Arts (OTA) of the Fine Arts Department (FAD) was assigned to make a new pair of door panels of similar artisanship to replace the old door panels, which will be repaired and kept in the Bangkok National Museum.