The saying that Phetchaburi is a "living Ayutthaya" is not considered an exaggeration. Both provinces share many similarities, whether in terms of historical sites, old temples or artistic forms. In both cases, craftsmanship has passed from generation to generation. Though the glory of Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient capital, ended over 200 years ago, Phetchaburi still remains its originate state as an old city.
Phetchaburi is the birthplace of unique and magnificent art and crafts such as stucco decorative art, paintings and woodcarvings. Crafts in this province are distinctive and cannot be found elsewhere.
Numerous temples in Phetchaburi serve as centers of learning for craftsmen and it is a tradition in this province for young men, after their monkhood, to contribute to the temple. Apart from textbooks and artistic creations found in various historical sites, stucco decorative art must be noted as an exceptional craft of Phetchaburi.
Traditional Thai stucco is generally used to decorate important buildings and structures. This graceful, artistic creation is durable and reflected through the ages. The stucco style of Phetchaburi differs from others, as the designs on the left and right sides differ slightly, instead of being similar as found in other styles.
Stucco craftsmen endure training for a long period of time, beginning by pounding stucco bricks, which is regarded as the key to stucco making. Various components such as lime, sand, sugar, oranic glue and paper are assembled in a large mortar and pounded. The proportions of these components depend on the formula and skill of each craftsman.
The first step in making a stucco relief is for the craftsman to sketch a design on paper, later to be drawn on the desired figure. Stucco is put on the drawing to form a relief, with cement used to make the structure. An iron bar with a pointed tip is used to decorate stucco, which is left for 10- to 15 minutes for the stucco to harden.
The art of stucco, which came into existence during the Ayutthaya Period (1350 to 1767), is seen as the works of masters.
Some examples of beautiful stucco relief can be seen at Wat Yai Suwannaram and Wat Maha That Voraviharn on the banks of the Phet River near King Rama IV Bridge. Since Wat Maha That Voraviharn is the center of Buddhism in Phetchaburi, renovations have been carried out in several periods and stucco relief at this temple is diverse in form and age, ranging from traditional patterns to the ones that reflect political satire.
Today, Phetchaburi craftsman still continue their stucco artistic creations. Young people are playing a greater role in working on stucco decorative art passed down by their ancestors. Phetchaburi stucco is a harmonious blend of the past and present; an artistic form that binds together three people, threeo ages and three periods. Such an eclectic bond is not found anywhere else in the world.
