Khanon Temple's Puppet
has 2 set
Original Puppet
It is a puppet that has been made sinceperiod of
time. Phra Kru Satha Sunthorn or Luang Pu Klom
created in the reign of King Rama 5. The number
of puppet more than 400 pieces. Then in this day
has 313 left. Show in Museum at Khanon Temple.
Rebuild Puppet
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn has order
to rebuild shadow puppet leather. By put Silpakorn University to organize and manage every process to make new puppet leather. Try to according to the original leather pattern and designed since 1990.
and then give Khanon Temple for use in the show.
The different between original puppet
and Rebuild puppet
Make a puppet leather is one kind of arts. That needs capability of craftsman.
They need to design every elements in 1 leather piece. The beauty of the leather depends
on the design of the characters and pattern. Especially battle scene. That have many action and character in 1 leather piece. Craftsman will try to invent a beautiful and exciting battle.
including coloring leather for beauty and represent some character.
Rebuild puppet leather is made for preserve original puppet. By follow every step
of ancient way to made. Such as drawing, cutting, coloring. But can not do the same of old
traditional way. By the way artist and craftsman solve it by adapt something new to make it
The step are as follow.
1. Drawing or Skecthing
Craftsman will drawing lines on top of
leather that already died and painted
in black. They using brush and white
color to sketch. Then drill the leather.
Original leather
Craftsman will use stencil paper for copy and drawing. Then use rotting pen size 0.5 . then
create the blue print for copy of leather.
And go to next step.
Rebuild leather
2. Material
Craftsman use cow leather more than
buffalo leather. Because cow leather
are softer than buffalo leather.
Original leather
Buy a synthetic leather that ready to use.
Because if they died leather like ancient technic it will use a lot of time.
Rebuild leather
3. Prepare a leather
Craftsman will ferment leather in a lime
or salt about 1 hour. Then bring leather
stretch on square wood. When it dry they
will scratch fur out. Ferment agian with
herbal water 7-10 days. Then bring
leather stretch on square wood agian.
Dry indoor area then it ready to use.
Original leather
Rebuild leather
Bring synthetic leather to soak in water.
Then soak in vinegar about 4-5 hour.
Then bring leather stretch on square wood.
Dry in indoor area then it ready to use.
4. Dril leather
Original leather
Tools for drill leather has 2 type
- Strike Tools use small metal tube with tiny
hole to drill through Leather.
- Cut Tools use chisel many tyep for sharpen
or cut Leather into shape or character.
Tools for drill leather has 2 type
- Strike Tools use tood-too (metal tube) in
different size drill through leather.
- Cutting Tools use sharp knife cut in area that need to be emty space
to creat shape and pattern.
Rebulid leather
5. Coloring leather
Color that craftsman use.They got it from
natural material such as
Black : Smut from burning banana leaf.
Yellow : Jack friut heart wood.
Red : Boiling Fang's heart wood with alum.
Green : Copper mix with lime juice.
Original leather
Rebuild leather
Craftsman try to use the same material
as much as they can. But they still need
to adapt or change some new material
for coloring rebuild leather set.
Black : Chinese ink, white-black powder color mix together.
Red-Yellow : Fang and jack fruit heart wood
mix with tree gum.
Brown-Red : Dried betel nut ferment in gin.
Green : Copper mix with lime juice.
6. Outlines
Original leather
The old traditional way to drawing outlines is
to use brush draw white lines on top of
painted leather (black). When they finished
drawing. They will drill and cut some area
to make shape and pattern. And some area
that didn't get rid are still have outlines left.
Drawing outlines after finished coloring.
By draw white line for emphasize shape.
Then vanished leather as a last step for
keep leather color and texture lasting.
Rebuild leather