Thai Traditional Color

Abstract

Thai powder color is one of the materials used in the creation of various kinds of craft ranging from Thai book and Khon mask painting used in traditional Thai drama, to mural painting. Thai craftsmen in the olden day searched powder colors from natural sources that include rocks, trees, and barks. Moreover, China exported powder color to Siam as recorded in historical documents and appeared in many types of painting. However, when Siam entered the era of modernism, the continuation of knowledge of Thai powder color was not conducted properly. This article is to investigate the names of powder colors, their productions and sources, and the comparison with colors from the western countries by names.