The study of stucco patterns at Wat Uposatharam, Uthai Thani province for the development of leather product designs

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to 1). Study and collect the stucco patterns at Wat Uposatharam, Uthai Thani province; 2) analyze the stucco patterns at Uposatharam, Uthai Thani province and 3) design the leather product using the identity of stucco patterns at Wat Uposatharam, Uthai Thani province.

The results showed that most stucco sculptures at Wat Uposatharam, Uthai Thaini were created for decorating the gables, roof wings, porches, window façades, arches, bases of Sema and pillars of the main hall, ordination hall, octagonal mondop and the 3-era pagoda. These sculptures had the characteristics of the early Rattanakosin art with the combination of Thai, Chinese and European arts. The stucco patterns could be divided into four types: 1) Patterns related to religious beliefs and images which could be found on the gables, roof wings of the ordination hall, main hall and the octagonal mondop. These patterns reflected beliefs and Buddhist influences and served as the remarkable centers. These patterns were such as the statue of Indra ridding Erawan elephant at the gable of the ordination hall, the Buddha statue in the attitude of looking holding an almsbowl and standing in the curved frame of the octagonal mandop.
2) Patterns related to literatures and Himmapan creatures demonstrating the value of Thai art created language that had been prosperous since ancient times. These patterns were such as painted stucco of Hanuman and Angada tricking and stealing Ravana’s heart from Kobutra the hermit situated at the gable behind the ordination hall, the statue of Kodchasri and the Lion at the roof wings behind the ordination hall and 3) Flora and vegetative patterns, the decorative patterns at the gable, roof wings, window façades, arches consisting of cotton rose, leaves and climbing ivy; 4) Thai design patterns consist of inverted lotus, lotus, flower (Pra Jam Yam) and continuous pattern (Na Kra Dan) for decorating the 3-era pagoda and bases of Sema including face pattern (Na Khob) appeared on Northern window façades of
the ordination hall.

The industrial embroidery machine was used to create patterns on the leather bag prototypes including
1) octagonal handbag, 2) cylinder bag, 3) long wallet, 4) wallet and 5) coin and card wallet. The evaluation showed that the overall preference of consumers toward the product prototypes were in range of high to highest level.