Lacquered Doors and Windows at Wat Kampang Temple Bangkok Analyzing the Current Protection System and Finding Alternatives to Prevent Further Damages

Abstract

Lacquered Doors and Windows at Wat Kampang Temple, Bangkok

Analyzing the Current Protection System and Finding Alternatives to Prevent Further Damages

The doors and windows of many traditional Thai palace and temple buildings, especially those of Ayutthaya period (1351–1767), have rich decorations of an enduring lacquering technique named – Lai rod nam, in which gold leaves are applied on black lacquered background. Even though lacquer is one of the most durable natural binders, these art works are facing deterioration and irreversible damages such as loss of lacquer surface and photodegradation due to their exposure to severe weather conditions.

This research aims to study the aluminum framed acrylic protection system on the lacquered door and window shutters of Wat Kampang temple in Bangkok. The study focuses on the damage types and failure mechanism of the protection system and tries to find an appropriate solution for the surface protection that can sustain in the long run.

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