Development of Baan ChokKhwaoSinarin's Jewelry of Isan in Thailand

This article is a part of dissertation on the topic of factors influencing development of jewelry in Isan region by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkam and Dr. Preechawut Apirating. This research aimed to study the development of jewelry in Baan ChokKhwaoSinarin, Isan region, Thailand. The study was conducted using qualitative methods. The research instrument included survey, observation, interview, and group discussion. The studied samples included jewelry and the jewelry makers. The concept of cultural ecology was employed in the data analysis. The result showed that the development of Baan ChokKhwaoSinarin's jewelry originated since prehistory period and inherited until today. The development was categorized into 6 areas which were 1) development in patterns; in the past, patterns were imitated from nature without cutting or trimming any parts, while at present, the patterns are partially cut and trimmed to make them more contemporaneous, 2) development in material; in the past, valuable materials such as gold, silver, semi-precious gemstone were used, while gemstones and synthetic sapphire are more commonly used now, 3) development in production; past production was done by melting, molding, trench welding, and polishing which required human labors, whereas the present production involves using machine and technology, 4) development in aesthetic design; the past designs were uniformly outlined, focused on relative geometric patterns, and left-right balanced design, while the present designs has been outlined to one side and trimmed out some parts, 5) development in utility; the jewelry in the past was used as a belief symbol, while at present it has been used as matching ornament for attires 6) development in belief symbolism; in the past, the jewelry was thought of related to amulets, while the present the belief has shifted to zodiac gemstones.