Ancient beads from Thailand

Mosaic Face Beads

2009-09-04T00:56:00.001-07:00

Mosaic Face Beads . The flat round bead decorated in the face .
figure with radius was the same type as founded in Herculenun,
Italy and in the Archaeological site of Yemen.
This bead found at Kuan Luk Pat,Khlong Thom District,Krabi Provinc,Thailand,Dvaravati period

Fish Ancient Beads

2009-09-04T00:46:00.001-07:00

Green Chalcedony Fish Beads found at Burma

Elephant Ancient Beads

2009-09-04T00:43:00.001-07:00

Elephant Beads found in Burma

Elephant Ancient Beads

2009-09-04T00:41:00.001-07:00

Green Chalcedony Elephant Beads found in Burma

Elephant Ancient Beads

2009-09-04T00:35:00.001-07:00

Elephant Beads found from many places of Thailand These Elephant Beads found at Petchaboon Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Semi-Precious Stone Beads

2009-09-03T22:25:00.001-07:00

Carnelian,Agate,chalcedony,green stone rock crystal and quartz beads are found in difference shape found from Burma

Rock Crystal Beads

2009-08-13T23:51:00.001-07:00

Rock Crystal Found in difference shape from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad . Dvaravati period

Ancient Banded Agate Beads

2009-08-13T23:07:00.001-07:00

Ancient Banded Agate Beads. found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .These Banded Agate Beads found at Petchaboon Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Ancient Agate Eye Beads

2009-08-13T22:52:00.001-07:00

Ancient Agate Eye Beads. found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .These Agate Eye Beads found at Petchaboon Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

BEADS AND BEYOND

2009-03-06T20:16:00.001-08:00

An exhibition sheds new light on the ancient trading hub of Suvarnabhumi

Trained professionally as a doctor, better known as a teacher, a social activist and a devout Buddhist, now Dr Bunchar Pongpanich makes his name as a bead collector - a serious one.

DIGGING DEEP: Dr Bunchar examines a bead found at an excavation site in Phangnga province.

Ancient beads from his private collection are now on display at "Beads and Beyond" at the National Discovery Museum.

The exhibition has wowed archaeologists and enthusiasts since its opening in December due to the diversity of the beads' origins and the periods in which they were made, which give significant clues about the history of the southern part of Thailand - a trading hub of the area known as Suvarnabhumi.

While Dr Bunchar, now 52 and secretary of the Suthee-Rattana Foundation in Nakhon Si Thammarat, insisted he was a meticulous planner, particularly when it came to his work and future, bead collecting was something that simply happened out of the blue.

"But there are plenty of reasons to explain this 'hobby'," he said.

During a recent press tour to the bead exhibition, Dr Bunchar passionately described the exhibited items, which he said belonged to the Suthee-Rattana Foundation. He stopped at a glass panel displaying a tiny, sand-coloured pendant with ancient Indian inscriptions, saying it was this very piece that triggered his interest in ancient beads some four years ago.

"This was my inspiration to explore bead affairs," he said.

Dr Bunchar said he was directing a tsunami relief operation in Krabi's Khlong Thom district when a villager came across the tiny object and handed it to him for examination.

"The engraved script on the pendant was made in a dialect called Brahmin that was used from the reign of King Ashoka [c 265 to 238 BC] up to the 5th century of the Buddhist Era [1st to 2nd century BC]," said Dr Bunchar.

Even though the meaning of the script remains a mystery, he said, it is potential evidence to mark the arrival of Buddhism in this region at that period.

"That may tell something about Suvarnabhumi. We know that Buddhism arrived in the region at that time but archaeological evidence that has been found in the country dates back only to the 9th century. But this bead dates farther back, to the 5th century."

He also found several other ancient signs used by Buddhists before the creation of Buddha images, including a tiny bead called Tri Rattana.

HISTORY: Beads of various origins and periods at the exhibition. They were loaned by Dr Bunchar Pongpanich of the Suthee-Rattana Foundation.

The bead, despite its importance, remains largely unknown to Buddhists, he said.

"Due to its peculiar, shoulder-like design, some villagers call it a 'doll bead'. I called it a 'frog bead' which did not make any sense," he said.

It was not until he met a French archaeologist who studied beads in Khao Sam Kaeo in Chumphon in 2007, that he realised that the bead, which is made of several kinds of stones including rock crystal and carnelian, signified the Three Gems of Buddhist beliefs.

"People don't recognise it largely because they look at it upside down. The round design at the bottom is a lotus, which is dhamma, the middle part is dharmachakra, the wheel of law, and the flame at the top is the spread of Buddhism."

Dr Bunchar said he then returned to the Suan Mokkh sanctuary and went through a note written by Phra Buddhadasa during his trip to India in 1955. "His note showed that the revered monk had seen this type of bead in that country and already knew of its meanings. I noticed also that the Tri Rattana sign is a motif of some of the walls of Suan Mokkh buildings."

His collection goes beyond Buddhism-related beads, as he has acquired rare beads and coins from Greek, Roman and other civilisations including the so-called Sun-God bead.

One silver coin demonstrated the arrival of early Islam in this region, he noted.

Dr Bunchar said the finds, including remnants of stones, indicated that this area was a major bead production site, not just a bead trading station as earlier believed.

He conceded that the hobby has drawn some harsh criticism as the beads are, according to law, archaeological objects that must be surrendered to the state.

"The fact is the Fine Arts Department has no ability to protect these items from looters and smugglers. I started to collect some four years ago and still acquired rare, valuable items. Imagine what we have lost to foreign markets given that this business began more than 30 years ago," he said.

The Fine Arts Department had received heaps of beads from local villagers but hardly treasured them. There was no study or research done on the items, which are mostly piled up in museums or storerooms, he said.

His ultimate aim, Dr Bunchar said, was to ensure that these beads were preserved within Thailand.

"The items are for study and research. They allow us to know better of our nation and our history. There will eventually be a museum for these items."

More importantly, Dr Bunchar noted that he never purchased beads from middlemen.

"All were received directly from villagers who dug them up. Since they agreed to pass the items on to me, I had to take care of them in the proper way," he said, carefully avoiding the term "buy" or "purchase".

During the press tour, questions did occasionally came up about the sum of money he paid for particular items, but he gently refused to disclose them, except once, for an ancient gold Roman coin, carrying the name "Antonius".

A villager who found it wanted 300,000 baht, as a number of antique dealers had asked to see it, he said.

"I told him it was beyond my ability to keep it within the country. All I asked was to take a picture of it, ready to accept the fact that we have to lose it to foreign markets. Later on, the villager came back, agreeing to accept my 80,000 baht offer."

Dr Bunchar carefully studied and researched each item he acquired, making notes and observations.

How does he know that the beads are genuine and not reproductions?

"I took into consideration where and from whom the beads came as well as other circumstances. Basically, I know the villagers who find them; as I said there are no middlemen involved in the process. When one dug up a bead or beads, fellow villagers also knew and I could check and double-check."

When asked if he has been approached by any bead dealers, he said: "No. Some may show an interest but never make a real offer. They know I won't sell any of them," he said in a determined voice.

Dr Bunchar said he spends a lot of time on beads, and the rest is divided between the construction of the Buddhadasa memorial site and advisory positions in state and public agencies, including the Thai Health Foundation.

What about his family - do they understand? He chuckled out loud before saying: "I'm not married ... yet I make sure that I'm at home at least one day a week to take care of Mum and Auntie, and some family business in Nakhon Si Thammarat that includes a bookshop. I would say they are understanding. They were not so at first, but eventually have learned to be."

Ancient sun god bead stolen

2009-03-06T20:13:00.001-08:00

An ancient bead featuring an image of the Hindu sun god Surya Dev has been stolen from the National Discovery Museum Institute, according to police.

The face of Surya Dev on an ancient stone bead

The Surya Dev bead, with a diameter of less than 2cm, had been kept inside a glass box with a magnifying glass on top allowing visitors a close look at the more than 2,000-year-old antiquity.

However, a thief removed the glass, leaving a hole through which he removed the bead, according to investigators.

The museum only wanted visitors to study the bead at close range, although that idea "goes against security practices of museums worldwide", admitted Ronarit Tanakoset, head of the exhibition.

A security camera gave few clues to police, who could not identify any suspects in the dimly lit display room. However, museum staff said one man went into the room without registering his name, said Pol Maj-Gen Witaya.

There were more than 20 people at the exhibition of ancient beads on Thursday, when the Surya Dev bead was stolen. Mr Ronarit said that while the museum had security measures, he had never expected a thief to snatch the bead in such a way.

The Surya Dev bead was among 1,000 ancient beads on show at the museum for an exhibition that opened on Dec 19 last year and will run until June 28.

The bead is made of stone, on which the god face was drawn. There are only 50 Surya Dev beads worldwide and fewer than 10 are in Thailand.

Bancha Pongpanit is the owner of the bead and lent it to the museum.

Mr Bancha said he had a contract with the museum and would act according to the agreement.

Canalian Beads

2009-01-30T07:07:00.001-08:00

2009-01-30T05:27:00.001-08:00

ancient agate beads frome Thailand

fragment of colourful glasses for bead making

2009-01-08T06:55:00.001-08:00

This is fragment of colourful glasses for bead making found at Kuan Luk Pad ,Khlong Thom District , Krabi Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Ancient Banded Agate Beads

2009-01-08T06:39:00.001-08:00

Found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .These BANDED AGATE BEADS found at THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Trade wind beads

2008-09-05T03:04:00.001-07:00

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Ancient Agate Beads

2008-09-05T02:47:00.001-07:00

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Ban Chiang beads

2008-09-05T02:37:00.001-07:00

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Dvaravati Period

2007-11-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

The Dvaravati kingdom of the early Thai kingdom existed from the 6th to the 11th centuries. The Kingdom was then absorbed by the growing Lavo and Subarnabhumi Kingdoms. People used ancient Mon language but unable to exactly identify the race of the population. While the theory of Thai migration has been obsolete already.

The term Dvaravati derives from coins which were inscribed in Sanskrit with śrīdvāravatī. The Sanskrit word Dvaravati means being a gateway to the port. Thus it refers to a coastal city. In addition this name might be linked to Dvaraka, the lost city of Krishna that was submerged into the sea.

Little is known about the administration of the kingdom, or even whether it was technically a kingdom at all. It may simply have been a loose gathering of principalities rather than a centralised state. The main settlements appear to have been at Nakhon Pathom, U Thong and Khu Bua west of the Chao Phraya. Other towns like Lavo (modern-day Lopburi) or Si Thep were also clearly influenced by the Dvaravati culture, but probably were not part of the kingdom.

Dvaravati itself was heavily influenced by Indian culture, and played an important role in introducing Buddhism and particularly Buddhist art to the region.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ancient Banded Agate Beads

2006-11-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

Ancient Agate Beads from Thailand.
Dvaravati period , Found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .

ANCIENT AMETHYST BEADS

2006-07-17T03:29:00.000-07:00

ANCIENT AMETHYST BEADS. from at Muang Thong site Kho Khao island in Phang-Nga Province.Thailand,Dvaravati period

ANCIENT CARNELIAN BEADS

2006-07-17T03:28:00.000-07:00

ANCIENT CARNELIAN BEADS.These carnelian beads found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .
These carnelian beads found at Kuan Luk Pat,Khlong Thom District,Krabi Provinc,Thailand,Dvaravati period

ANCIENT CARNELIAN BEADS

2006-07-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

ANCIENT CARNELIAN BEADS.These carnelian beads found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .
These carnelian beads found at petchaboon Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Etched Carnelian Beads

2006-07-05T03:16:00.000-07:00

Etched Carnelian Beads .(white on red) This carnelian bead has been artificially colored with white lines and circles using a special bleaching technique developed by the ancient Harappans.This bead found at Kuan Luk Pat,Khlong Thom District,Krabi Provinc,Thailand

ANCENT BANDED AGATE BEADS

2006-06-20T03:06:00.000-07:00

ANCENT BANDED AGATE BEADS. found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .These BANDED AGATE BEADS found at Lopburi and Petchaboon Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Glass beads from Ban Chiang

2006-06-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

Glass beads from Ban Chiang ,Thailand 300-250 BC

Consisting of Distinctive Assemblages of Short Bicones of Green and Blue .

Trade wind beads

2006-06-10T02:58:00.000-07:00

Trade wind beads of green ,blue and brick red.
These glass beads found from many places of Thailand probably the Trading item brought from aboroad .
These glass found at Muang Thong site , Kho Khao Island in Phang-Nga Thailand. ca 7 th-10th century, Dvaravati period .

fragment of colourful glasses

2006-06-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is fragment of colourful glasses for bead making found at Kuan Luk Pad ,Khlong Thom District , Krabi Province , THAILAND. Dvaravati period

Roman Glass Bead

2006-06-08T01:42:00.000-07:00

Roman Glass Bead . The flat round bead decorated in the face .
figure with radius was the same type as founded in Herculenun,
Italy and in the Archaeological site of Yemen.
This bead found at Kuan Luk Pat,Khlong Thom District,Krabi Provinc,Thailand,Dvaravati period

Ancient Beads From Thailand

2006-06-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hi .This is ancient beads from Thailand in Dvaravati period
All of beads is my collection.
Look for Asiamarketonline in ebay.com and ancientbeadsonline.com
The website to trade ancientbeadsonline.com will coming soon.