Yan Lipao weaving is a handicraft indigenous to the south, originating from the beginning of the Ratanakosin Period. Products made from this vine were tobacco containers, betel-nut sets, stemmed plates, tea caddies, boxes, bowls for taking flowers and incense to the temple, bird cages and other daily household utensils.
Yan Lipao products were very popular in Chao Phya Nakhon Si Thammarat's household. It is said that he presented choice pieces o aristocrats in the Ratanakosin period. But not until the reign of King Rama V, when Chao Phya Yomarat (Phan Sukhum), then Lord Lieutenant of Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat, revived the craft, did Yan Lipao gain a wide interest in the court.
Products were often rimmed with gold or "Nak" (an alloy of gold and copper). Popular utensils were handbags, cigarette boxes, and betel-nut sets. Ordinary people would use Yan Lipao household utensils. Popular designs were the "Kod Kris" and "Pim Thone" designs, which are now difficult to duplicate.
After the reign of King Rama V, Yan Lipao handicraft began to lose its popularity and practically disappeared, with only a handful of old-timer who still knew the art. It was then Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit visited Taksin Palace in the South and saw that the vine was abundant, that she needed to revived the craft, to preserve this southern heritage, and to give the people a supplementary occupation.
Since then, Yan Lipao handbags rimmed with gold or Nak, imitating the ancient designs, have become widely used again.
In preparation for weaving, it is necessary to select suitable vines in length. The suitable vine, when stripped of its husk, is golden brown inside. After cutting, the outer part is stripped from the pith, which is discarded. This must be done when the vine is still very fresh, and great care must be taken not to break the fiber at the joints.
The strips are then hung up to dry in the shade, and then cut into uniform pieces. Then they are drawn through a sharp hole in a tin plate to smoothen them. This process is called "Chak Liad". The greater degree of fineness and pliability achieved in this process will result in making the finished work more refined. Then the strips are woven around a frame made of wicker or bamboo.
A needle is used to lead the thread in and around the wicker strips on the frame. The most difficult part of Yan Lipao basketry is creating designs using the natural colors of the Lipao's other skin, the underside being much lighter. On completion, wood oil is applied to the finished work to enhance the color and protect the fiber, making it last for centuries and helping it to retain its original condition.
Now-a-days, Yan Lipao basketry is a unique handicraft of the South especially in Nakhon Si Thammarat, also famous for its niello-ware, shadow puppets and silk brocade. Various levels of Yan Lipao handicraft, from the most refined to the more domestic, can be found in every souvenir shops in villages in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
