{"product_id":"long-of-siam-s-state-barge","title":"King of Siam’s State Barge - ILN 1855","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e The King of Siam’s State Barge\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e London,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e United Kingdom\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e c.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e 1855–1860\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Hand-coloured wood engraving\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eSource:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"8\" class=\"\"\u003eThe Illustrated London News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"41\" class=\"\"\u003eA Procession of Divine Majesty\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e For centuries,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e the Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River has been the ultimate display of the Thai monarch's status.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e This print tells the story of the mid-19th century under the reign of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"284\" class=\"\"\u003eKing Mongkut (Rama IV)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e a period when the Kingdom of Siam was skillfully navigating the pressures of Western colonialism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe barge depicted is a masterpiece of maritime engineering and spiritual symbolism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Powered by dozens of synchronized oarsmen,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e these vessels were designed to resemble mythical creatures from Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e The sight of a fleet of such barges,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e shimmering in gold leaf and reflected in the river,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e was meant to project an image of an \"Earthly Deva\"—a king whose power was divinely ordained.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e This specific print allowed a Victorian audience in London to witness the grandeur of a kingdom that refused to be eclipsed by European influence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-path-to-node=\"9\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eChronicles of the Print\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eThe Royal Navy of the River:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e The barge shown features a towering,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e ornate pavilion (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"83\" class=\"\"\u003eBusabok\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e) at the stern,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e where the King or sacred Buddha images would be seated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e This elevated position ensured the monarch was physically and symbolically above everyone else.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eMythical Iconography:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e The prow of the barge is sculpted into the likeness of a legendary creature—likely the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"109\" class=\"\"\u003eSuphannahong\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (Golden Swan) or a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"141\" class=\"\"\u003eNaga\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (serpent).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e These figures were believed to protect the vessel and its royal passenger.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\" class=\"\"\u003eSiam through British Eyes:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"44\" class=\"\"\u003eIllustrated London News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e this print was part of a wave of \"Exotic\" reportage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e It documented the 1855 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"145\"\u003eBowring Treaty\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e mission,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e which opened Siam to free trade with Britain and brought Thai culture into the British consciousness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,3,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eChao Phraya Background:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e In the background,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e you can see the traditional stilt houses and temple spires (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"10,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"103\"\u003ePrang\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) that lined the banks of \"The River of Kings,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\" providing a rare architectural snapshot of 19th-century Bangkok.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Treasures of the Orient","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43800772739137,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/7125\/5105\/files\/D01162AF-EBFD-40B3-82A9-092070E0A9AC.jpg?v=1777122655","url":"https:\/\/treasuresoftheorient.com\/products\/long-of-siam-s-state-barge","provider":"Treasures of the Orient","version":"1.0","type":"link"}