The elaborately fasioned and gilded masks worn by dancers performing in the popular "Ramayana" dance are one of the enduring symbols of Thai culture. Since their introduction at the beginning of the Rattanakosin period in the late-18th century, many hundreds of thousands of masks have been produced by skilled craftsmen. Less well known as an art form, the history of Thai puppetry dates back as early as the 11th century, when inscriptions from the north and central Thailand mention their role as an offering to the gods. This volume unites the puppets and masks from various collections and seeks to make this unique facet of Thai culture more widely known.
- ISBN10 050097456X
- ISBN13 9780500974568
- Publish Date 1 March 1999
- Publish Status Transferred
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 160
- Language English