Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

Jim Thompson House ❮❮ 31

Ban Khrua
Dvaravati
8 9
Silk Weavers
Buddha Torso
Thompson chose this Probably the most
location beside Khlong significant example of
Saen Saeb because a early Asian art at the
silk weavers’ community complex, this headless
(left) lived at Ban Khrua, Buddha torso, made of
on the opposite bank. limestone during the
This made it easy for him Dvaravati period (7th–8th
to oversee their work. centuries), was found
in Lopburi Province.
Traditional Teak Houses
7 The statue is on display
in the garden that
The roofs of these six traditional stilted
houses are steeply pitched for ventilation, and the surrounds the house.
walls lean inward to create a sense of height.
Burmese
0
Master 3 1 Drawing 4 Dining Carvings
Bedroom Room Room These intricate carvings
display a high level of
artistic ability. Jim
Thompson’s exten sive
collection of wooden
figures includes images
of nats (below), ani mist
spirits that were
incorpo rated into
Buddhism when
it developed
in Myanmar.

Burmese 0
Carvings
Key to Floorplan Dvaravati 9
First floor Buddha Jataka 2 Spirit 5
Second floor Torso Paintings House
NEED TO KNOW • Ignore any touts and purses, while the
MAP P2 • 6 Soi Kasem hanging around the house Jim Thompson Center
San 2, Rama 1 Road who tell you it is closed; for the Arts upstairs
• 02 216 7368 • Skytrain they just want to take you hosts fascinating
National Stadium shopping elsewhere so temporary exhibitions.
they can get a commission.
• www.jimthompson • The café (open 11am–
house.com • The branch of Jim 5pm), and the wine bar
Thompson Silk, located and restaurant (open
Open 9am–6pm daily on the grounds, sells small 7–11pm) offer repose next
Adm: B150 souvenir items such as ties to a tranquil pond.

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