Temple Rubbing Facts
Little Known Facts about Thai Temple Rubbings
When you think about Siam, what comes to mind will be about looking towards a visit to an exotic far away Asian country and its famous Thai Temple Rubbings. Keeping souvenirs of your journey will not be complete without visiting those places where Thai Temple Rubbings are said to be reproduced not so long ago. Cambodia is said to sell temple rubbings as well but there is nothing compared to the majestic experience that you can feel when you see the most notable figures in Thai history being epitomized in rice paper but masters of this art of Thai Temple Rubbings.
One of the things that you and others may not be aware of is that Thai Temple Rubbings are painstakingly made by hand. Original copies are auctioned to the highest bidder. This is especially true for those who know an excellent form of art when they see one. Most of the commonly seen “originals” are really good reproductions rubbed from the walls and carvings seen at the most famous Thailand places to visit such as the Grand Palace which is generally open to the public. This is not the official palace where the royalties reside but a showroom to the world of how Thai Temple Rubbings came into existence as the artists are inspired by these great works of art.
Best Places to Find Vintage Thai Temple Rubbings
Since it is no longer permissible to rub the deities and the walls of famous places your best option of finding Thai Temple Rubbings would be to look for it through the internet. These Thai Temple Rubbings are hand rubbed using an acrylic-like chalk. They clearly evoke local Thai art as interpreted by these famous rubbings. Original reproductions will not be sold cheaply. Be prepared to pay for a high price, but be sure to choose well known sellers who are known for selling real art pieces. Thai Temple Rubbings usually depict female dancers with their long tapered designed nails as they gracefully make some slow dance moves that only the Thai people can.
You can watch for reviews made by those who have the chance to purchase such a much sought after art piece. The Indian epic Ramayana is the main source of inspiration for Thai Temple Rubbings. You can see that original Thai Temple Rubbings all carry the same general theme. It also depends on what colors of chalk the artist used to produce such rubbings. Typically it is made from black charcoal chalk on a white background. In some cases the rubbings can be brown or even blue. It is no wonder why these same scenes are translated into silk screen wall art as well.
More Important Things to Know about Thai Temple Rubbings
Buddhist monks, who are in training, once took the initiative to sell Thai Temple Rubbings for their education. The government was not too happy with the disastrous effects of these rubbings on their historical site and has banned this practice until now. As a form of compromise, the government encourages the making of reproductions instead.
The internet is filled with reputable collecting clubs who may sell these Thai Temple Rubbings by closed or open bidding. You need to communicate with the contact person to ask more about what they are selling. Most of the time, Thai Temple Rubbing collectors join clubs or forum sights that gather all the collectors of this kind of art from all over the world. If more information is given, it means you have a better chance of getting your preferred collection piece.
Some of those that are sold online are still in very good condition since they were handled well. It is normal to see some minor creases or small tears since the artists are using paper after all, even if it is made out of rice. It is easy to see how trustworthy the Thai Temple Rubbings sellers are on such sites as eBay. They are given good reviews from satisfied customers. This does not mean that you will not need to check if they are selling the real thing.
Regarding the use of rice paper, you can see that it is translucent but it is not transparent. The choice of what paper to use for Thai Temple Rubbings is based on rice paper’s resilience and strength. Artists can use rice paper to paint or print such Thai Temple Rubbings without the fear of seeing this art piece crumpled or fold because of the use of this medium.