This tealight holder handcrafted by Thai artisan Aunchalee Kaewduangtip will make a delightful addition to your home decor. The elephant-shaped holder is molded, fired in the kiln, hand-painted and given a glistening glaze, then it is finished with hand-painted accents that add another layer of charm to the piece.
 

Product Features: 

• Dimension: 3.3" H x 3.3" W x 3.9" D
• Weight: 0.66
• Color: Green
• Material: Ceramic
• Made in Thailand

Story Behind the art:
I was born in Chiang Mai in 1976. When I was in junior high, schools like the one I attended focused on practicing art or craft along with our academic subjects, so I chose the ceramics class because it looked like fun. We learned to use a potter's wheel to create plates, bowls, vases, or other containers in circular shapes. Today, I work in ceramics at home. I start by taking the clay from the rice fields and drying it in the sun. I then grind it to a powder and strain out any sediment or weeds. The resulting powder is a very fine clay. To use it, I soak it in water. When the clay becomes sticky, I rub it before use and place it on the potter's wheel. We turn it by hand while shaping the clay with our hands, and my friends and I take turns either turning the wheel or molding the clay. Finally, when I have the shape I want, I put my pottery in the kiln. Then I wait with excitement, hoping it turns as we expected. I fell in love with ceramics so I studied for a vocational certificate in the art department. During my first year of college, I told my teacher that I wanted to major in ceramics rather than waiting for a suggestion. And for my high vocational certificate, I studied more complicated aspects of the work, such as the selection of soil, or using the kiln at different temperatures. Because my family didn't have enough money, I decided not to continue at the university. I began working with Duangkamol, another featured artisan, in her workshop. My duty was carving and decorating the pattern clearly before we put the ceramics into the kiln. I enjoyed working with her and I learned many things, but I still dreamed about crafting my own designs. After four years there, I bought a small gas-fired kiln, suitable for a family workshop, and began working on my own. I didn't know anything about sales or marketing, but it didn't concern me that much. Because I worked at home, it didn't take much money to begin and it was worth a try. I practiced using the kiln until the ceramics came out perfect. The first generation of my own designs included a hand-thrown container and another made with the slab method, in which we press clay into thin sheets, cut them to the desired shape then hand-stamp the patterns and join the pieces. This method was not popular because each piece came out a different size, but I find it charming. Many people suggested I use a mold, which could make every piece the same size and faster. However, I insist on using the slab method because I want to touch every piece of my work. I felt I could pass my feelings onto my designs — my happiness in each one of them. Although they are functional containers, they can be pieces of art. I continue working at home, crafting vases, dishes, or bowls on the wheel or with the slab technique. I use leaves and flowers to create the motifs, and I sometimes use a mold if the shopper requests it. Government programs in support of Thai artisans have sponsored my ceramics at a number of trade fairs, and this has helped me become known. I offer courses on pottery making to interested students. 

The handmade touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size, and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.

Imported