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Each Soap Carving takes approximately 30 minutes to create. From a bar of soap to a beautifully presented flower. Please take a look at the steb-by-step image (left) to see how they are made or watch the YouTube video online here:
Fruit and vegetable carving began about 700 years ago in Sukothai, the capital of the Thai people, in what is now the north of central Thailand. Sukothai was the capital of the region from 1240 - 1350. In preparation for one of their major festivals, Loi Kratong, one of the King’s servants, called Nang Noppamart, tried to think how she could make her Kratong more beautiful, in order to please the king. She took a flower and used it as a pattern to carve from. She then carved a bird and set it with its head pointing towards the flower. Loi Kratong is still celebrated today and Sukothai is one of the best places in Thailand to experience it.
After the revolution in 1932 fruit and vegetable carving became less popular. Those worried about the art disappearing set up a course to train people to teach the art to everyone in Thailand. Today it is taught from the age of 11 in primary schools through secondary school and on to university where it is an optional subject.
Soap Carving is a relatively modern development that allows the skills of these talented craftsmen to be enjoyed and kept for generations.
Everyday more and more people are discovering with disbelief and amazement the beauty of this Thai art thanks to the imagination of Nang Noppamart all those years ago.
