LOCATION: [MY COUNTRY] [FUTURE] [MY OFFICE] [MY KING] [MEMORIAL]
YAN LIPAO
One of Her Majesty majesty's initiative project
Story : Yaowarach Thonggao
Photo : Yutthachai Ketnoo
Throughout the reign of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, his royal consort, Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit, has accompanied His Majesty on many visits to their people througout the country, dedicating herself to alleviating the plight of the poor, the needy and infirm. Her Majesty always realize on the distinctive problems of each area and the first problem that requires to be immediately solved is to alleviate the general well-being of the people. Her Majesty has ever given a royal remark that if people get a well-being and have a baby, such baby will grow up with perfect health both physical and mental. But if mother is imperfect, her baby will grow up with and inferior quality. Therefore, we could encourage everyone to have a qualified life to avoid further inferior quality of people. So, when we give occupation to people, we also need to give them a reasonable allowance and conserve the diligent and skilful craftsman be exited so long. Consequently, Her Majesty established The Support Foundation to support the additional income of people and more important, Her Majesty wishes to encourage people to love and preserve exquisite local Thai arts and crafts not to be extinction.
While visiting with His Majesty the King at the southern province of Narathiwat, Her Majesty the Queen graciously gave guidance and support on Yan Lipao busketry. Teachers were brought in to teach and train members of the Support Foundation at Narathiwat, Supports Training Center in Chitralada Palace, Center for Handicapped People in Samutprakam and finally Supports Center in Bangsai, Ayutthaya.

Yan Lipao is a kind of climbing plant, a fern vine that grows in black and brown colours. It is a natures bounty of raw material for unique basketry work. The vine grows well in the southern part of Thailand. The vine collected from the jungle must be pelled (The outer part being stripped from the pith) and hung to dry in the shade. The dried strips are then polished and smoothed out before weaving. The ripe one-meter portion climbing from the root of the vine is the best materil for basketry work. The tools used to weave are a sharp knife and pin, a holed metal cover on tin, a holed thick metal plate and a pincers. Firstly, we must know how to make the line of vine in the size we preferred, then begins to weave the bottom of basket, today and the cover and the gold designed decoration is made at the final step.
Yan Lipao basketry works is an old nd traditional art of Thailand. This dedicate craft has been known to exist as far back as the early Ratanakosin period. After 10 years of Her Majestys guidance and leadership, Yan Lipao basketry work hs now become a highly dependable cottage industry and handicraft. Yan Lipao products have become a lasting and beautiful "art teasure" which will evolve into an inheritance for our future generations.
This is only a part of Her Majesty's activities that was dedicated for the benifit and happiness of Thai people in accordance with His Majesty's royal remark "Sorrow or Happiness of People is also been His Majesty's Sorrow and Happiness.

"Yan Lipao, One of Her Majesty majesty's initiative project", SIAM SMILE MAGAZINE, Thailand, March 1998, P. 78 - 79.