เครื่องเขินเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This article aimed to study 1) the history of Chiang Mai Lacquerware, 2) the process of production of Chiang Mai lacquerware, 3) changes of lacquerware from past to present and 4) conservation of Chiang Mai lacquerware. The data collected from indepth interviews, observations and review of relevant documents. Lacquerware are objects made by a specific process including wood and bamboo, making them to the appliances according to the purpose and finish by decorations. The main materials of making lacquerware are lacquer (lak) resin, crimson substance, pearl and gold leaf. There are 5 patterns of Chiang Mai lacquerware including Lai Khud–filled lacquer, Lai Rot Nam–gold gilding, Rak See–colored lacquer, egg shell inlay, and color painting lacquer. The decoration style mostly are artificial, natural imitation and miscellaneous. The decorative techniques are scratching and filling color, gold gilding lacquering, colored lacquering, pearl decorated, bulge style with gold leaf and glass inlay, and egg shell inlay. The main material of making lacquerware is ‘lacquer–lak’. There are 2 steps of lacquering; 1) Preparation : using samook as the base of the product. Samook comes from other substances mixed with lacquer resin to become sticky and concentrated for coating the pattern of the product. 2) Lacquer coating : the technique involves applying several coats of varnish. Lacquering process is the significant identity which makes lacquerware different from other handicrafts. Lanna people call it ‘Nam–Hug lacquer liquid’. Lacquer resin which is mostly used from ‘Lak Yai or Hug Luang (Melanorrhoea usitate)’. There are 3 tapping periods but the best quality of resin; concentrated, thick and clean is during November to January called ‘Hug nai’. After tapping resin it will be divided as raw lacquer, Rak Nam Kliang (drained lacquer), Rak Samook (mixed lacquer), Rak Klia (spreading lacquer), Rak Chet (wiped lacquer), and Rak Sai (clear lacquer). Each lacquer has different using purpose. The making of lacquerware in Chiang Mai has a long history. The factor that maintains this making is adaptation process according to economic and social changes. People have to conserve the making of pattern and process and style production because the making process and style changes according to the needs of the customer. Governmental, non–governmental and social promotion should raise awareness of the benefit of Melanorrhoea usitate (lacquer tree) which produces main materials of making lacqureware and is almost extinct. At present, Nantharam community, Haiya and Muang Chiang Mai have their own local wisdom support process for sustainability by founding learning centre to cascade knowledge to youth people and tourists to practice and experience by themselves. This is a method to build the awareness and value of the benefit of lacquer tree conservation and lacquerware handicraft.