FIVE SHADES OF BEAUTY
An ongoing exhibition in Bangkok unveils the history and aesthetics of the lesser-known Chinese porcelain Bencharong
Many Thais know and love Chinese blue and white porcelain. Yet, another kind of Chinese ceramics called Bencharong, literally meaning “five colours”, is not so popular although it was custom-made in China for Siam. To provide a glimpse into craftsmanship, the “Bencharong Journey From China To Siam” exhibition is being held by River Books and River City Bangkok at River City Bangkok shopping complex until Jan 25. “Bencharong is a form of sophisticated art that is full of stories of the invention and taste of people during different periods of time. Historical evidence found at archaeological sites showed us that the Chinese were the creators of the world’s oldest pottery. Some pots found in China’s Jiangxi province are 20,000 years old. Bencharong porcelain in Siam was made to order and imported from China during the Ayutthaya period until the Rattanakosin era. Bencharong is regarded as beautiful ware that reflects civilisation, arts and sciences as well as Thai artistic uniqueness,” Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said while inaugurating the exhibition last month. River Books CEO MR Narisa Chakrabongse said the exhibition features at least 80 pieces of Bencharong that came from China to Siam. Some other items than Bencharong are on view for comparison in terms of motifs and forms. Upchao (a stone figure for adding weight to a junk) is also shown to tell how Bencharong was brought here from China. The exhibition is curated by Dawn F. Rooney who also is the author of the book titled Bencharong Chinese Porcelain For Siam. Rooney is a ceramics historian who published her first book on Khmer ceramics in 1984. She lived in Thailand for a long time and followed some archaeologists to old kiln sites in Sawankhalok and Si Satchanalai districts of Sukhothai province, and some others in Cambodia. Rooney said: “Westerners are more familiar with Chinese blue and white porcelain than Bencharong because Bencharong was exclusively produced for Siam.” She recalled that she became interested in Bencharong because there were very few books and academic papers in English on the subject and foreign private collectors were confused what Bencharong exactly was and where it came from. According to her, she developed a passion for Bencharong after being a guest lecturer on Thai ceramics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in recent years. A colleague of hers from the Victoria and Albert Museum found a collection of Bencharong in a museum storage and had no idea what to do with it. That person later asked a curator in Oslo, Norway, to work together to resurrect the collection and organise an exhibition. The team also produced a book for the exhibition and invited Rooney to write a chapter and co-edit the book in 2013. “My favourite motifs are the figures of Thepphanom and mythical creatures as well as the symmetrically arranged diamond patterns,” Rooney said of her favourite Bencharong patterns. Bencharong is a unique type of enamelled export porcelain that was custom made in China for Siam. Its bold colours and innovative designs echoed the culture and made Bencharong very attractive. It is a perfect combination of Chinese technology and Siamese motifs. The Thai name Bencharong derives from the Sanskrit words pancha (five) and ranga (colour), but the number of colours on a single piece is not necessarily five but can be less or more. The exhibition tells the story of Bencharong through 12 themed perspectives that allow a glimpse into the splendour and riches of Siamese courtly life in the 18th and 19th centuries. More than 100 pieces of Bencharong and related objects in other materials from private collections and galleries are exclusively on view at the event. Among the highlights, according to Rooney, are two groups of Chinese blue and white shards that came before Bencharong, a set of finely crafted silverware for betel chewing that might have inspired the production of similar things in the form of Bencharong, a shrine setting bedecked with Bencharong, a set of Chakri tea cups, and a Bencharong piece made in Germany. The Bencharong journey begins with a story of the long and continued trade and diplomatic relationship between Siam and China in the 13th century through the glory of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and its role in the global Chinese export porcelain trade. Western orders for Chinese export ware in custom-made shapes and decoration soon developed and Bencharong became a part of that class of ware in the 18th century. At the exhibition, visitors can look at this part of the story through original maps, town plans, prints and cover pages of French publications. Porcelain was invented in China in the 9th century. The production of Bencharong began at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, in southern China, where Bencharong originated. Visitors to the exhibition can learn about the production process and follow the porcelain southward to the port of Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong province, for enamelling, firing, and loading onto junks bound for Siam. Visitors will see commonly used Bencharong motifs through annotated thumbnail illustrations. Buddhist and Hindu mythical creatures, such as the Garuda, Naga, Norasingh, Rajasingh, Kinnari, Lion, surrounded by tropical vegetation is a typical motif. Other patterns include Thepphanom (deity in a posture of worship), Deva (angel), dancing fairy, flame, funnel, bat, bird, fish, butterfly, Himmaphan Forest flowers, peony, jasmine, Chrysanthemum, rose, cabbage leaf, cotton leaf, cloud and deer. MR Narisa said: “I love Bencharong and the way Chinese people copied Thepphanom and mythical creature motifs [while making Bencharong]. That’s why it’s unique.” Paisarn Piemmettawat, the River Books executive whose collection of Chinese enamelled copperware in a similar form and motif to Bencharong is shown at the exhibition, added that the Thepphanom and kranok ploei (flame) patterns belong to Thailand only. Also at the exhibition, two groups of archaeological shards are exhibited for the first time. These blue and white porcelain shards with Siamese designs of the 17th century were found on the grounds of the palace at the old capital of Ayutthaya. They confirm that blue and white porcelain was a predecessor to Bencharong. Meanwhile, mid-19th century Bencharong shards from a recent excavation near Jingdezhen provide the only evidence that some of the enamelling was done there. The Bencharong in Siam section showcases Siamese vignettes that reveal the heart of the Bencharong story. Visitors will see how Bencharong was used in betel chewing, temple decoration, elegant royal court dining, tea drinking and more. A special highlight is the shrine setting bedecked with Bencharong. This section also features rare Bencharong pairs and sets, many of which have never before been exhibited. The rising Chinese influence on Siam through the emergence of wealthy merchants is reflected in Bencharong with its increasing use of Chinese motifs, such as luscious, pastel-coloured chrysanthemums and peonies, birds, butterflies and insects. The Cross-Cultural Connections section is the last part of the exhibition. In the late 19th century, Siam continued to look westward beyond its boundaries with more passion for European things. This trend is reflected in a new type of Chinese export porcelain that mixed Siamese and European forms and motifs. China responded to the demand for more enamelled export ware by producing designs for mass markets without specialisation. Many of this type have been found in Thailand and are included in this exhibition. Among the highlights are a fine group of Chinese enamelled copperware made for the Siamese market that illustrates the close relationship of this type in form and motif with Bencharong. Historian and Chinese porcelain collector Pimpraphai Bisalputra said: “Usually, collectors love their items so much that they do not want others to see any of them. But, Dawn [the curator] is able to bring these objects here for us to see. So, I feel so good to see these things and feel that Thailand has very rare beautiful items I have never seen anywhere else even at museums. This collection of enamelled copperwares is so amazing.”
“Bencharong Journey From China To Siam” is open daily from 10am-8pm from today until Jan 25 at RCB Auction Room on the 4th floor of River City Bangkok, Charoen Krung 4. Admission is 100 baht per person. On Jan 19, a free seminar “Bencharong In Perspective” will be held from 2-4pm at River City Bangkok RCB Forum, 2nd Floor.
For more information about the exhibition and the book, contact River Books via email: order@ riverbooksbk.com or tel 02-222-1290.