Gilded Benjarong Vases

Thailand’s then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presented this pair of vases to then-President S.R. Nathan during his Official Visit to Singapore on June 22, 2009, as part of an introductory tour of the ASEAN countries since after he assumed office in December 2008.

The Seal of the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand

^{Dimensions: 9 × 9 × 15 cm (per vase)}

This gift is a pair of Benjarong Vases. The name Benjarong derives from Sanskrit – benja (five) and rong (colours) – literally meaning “five colours”, white, black, green, red, and yellow. In practice, the hand-painted decoration may incorporate three, five, eight, or more colours, often highlighted with gold, resulting in a richly ornamented design.

Overtime, such wares became available to aristocrats and merchants resulting in design variations.