Red Silk Wall Hanging from Thailand, "Royal Red"

Floral Thai patterns minutely balance the expansive central swath of this wall hanging. Silk brocade creates soft textures before the vermilion background, executed in hues of leafy green and lustrous gold. Pure silk results in a truly palatial accent.

Queen Dararassamee was one day "offered" to the King of Bangkok by the King of Chiang Mai. Much later, she returned to her native Lanna kingdom (the name for Northern Thailand) and brought with her many arts and crafts from the central region of the country that she discovered during her stay in Bangkok, such as the magnificent pha yok brocaded silk textiles. Originally woven exclusively to attire the palace court, the rich and the commoners were eventually allowed to own the royal fabric as well. Regrettably, the art of the pha yok has practically died out, and only a few persons are still engaged in this particular craft. Orasa Khunsangkham is one of them, preserving ancient techniques and her exquisite Lanna patterns.