This 'bencharong' porcelain bowl is decorated in polychrome enamels. A red floral border adorns the mouthrim and thepanoms are featured in panels. A thepanom is a celestial being known in Buddhist cosmology and is usually depicted in a worshipping posture. A typical thepanom on Bencharong is seated and wears a collar and waist band formed from petals, bracelets and armlets made up of bands of small flowers.The Thai word, 'bencharong', is derived from the Sanskrit word, 'panch' and 'rang' literally meaning 'five colouring'. The Chinese called this 'wucai' (five colour) ware. It was exported to Thailand from the mid 16th to early 20th century, initially for royalty and later for a mass market.
