Thai culture hits Chicago
By Itsarin Tisantia
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
and the Chicago History Museum
The Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation in partnership with the Royal Thai Government recently arranged the Siam: The Queen and the White City exhibition at the Chicago History Museum in the US. The exhibition, to be held until March 2, displays delicate embroidery using silk threads, gold and silver filaments, as well as other items of traditional Thai arts and culture.
For Freeze Frame this week, SW takes a look at this prestigious exhibition.
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Queen Savang Vadhana’s betel nut set made of yan lipao trees is one of the many rare items on display at the exhibition. |
The official shoulder sash of Queen Savang Vadhana is embroidered with her royal insignia. |
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The painting of a pavilion in the middle of a forests was created by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. |
Queen Savang Vadhana’s Siamese Album was once presented to famous public figure Potter Palmer. Its cover was embroidered by the queen herself. |
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This black and white picture of Queen Savang Vadhana dressed in her royal official attires was taken more than a century ago. |
Exercises
Read through Freeze Frame. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words.
1. The Siamese Album was once presented to __________________________ .
2. The painting of the pavilion was created by HRH ______________________________ .
3. Queen Savang Vadhana’s betel nut set was made of _______________ trees.
4. The exhibition is scheduled to run until ____________________ .
Vocabulary
- embroidery (n): patterns that are sewn onto cloth using threads of various colours
filament (n): a long thin piece of something that looks like a thread
sash (n): a long strip of cloth worn around the waist or over one shoulder, especially as part of a uniform
insignia (n): the symbol, badge or sign that shows somebody’s rank or that they are a member of a particular group, etc.
