Paper Umbrellas Thailand

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Mike

Sa Paper Umbrellas on display in Chiang Mai Thailand

One unexpected highlight on my trip to Chiang Mai was visiting a commune where Sa paper umbrellas were made. Thai paper umbrellas or paper parasols are popular throughout the world for their colourful designs and besides their obvious practical use make great artistic displays too.

Chiang Mai is a centre for Sa paper umbrella production in Thailand.

Sa Paper Umbrellas.

The history of making of Sa paper umbrellas in Northern Thailand dates back to the days of the Lanna Kingdom which is now geographically located in part of Northern Thailand and Burma(Myanmar).

“Sa paper,” is made from processing the bark of a tree that is not unlike a Mulberry that is abundant in the area. The processed bark is then formed into sheet using a mesh mould.

One popular story has it that a travelling monk discovered the craft in a village in what is now Myanmar and “imported” it into modern day Thailand to the village of Bo Sang(near CM). It is also said that this monk helped develop the process of making Sa Paper Umbrellas by adding fabrics like cotton, rayon and silk to the Sa mixture, for strength and durability.

Production at Umbrella Commune in Chiang Mai.

Woman Making Frame for Sa Paper Umbrella Chiang Mai ThailandOn my visit to the umbrella commune in Chiang Mai I found that everything used to construct the umbrellas was manufactured on site with the possible exception of the Sa Paper(couldn’t find out for sure).

Initially the frame of the umbrella was made from hand cut Bamboo with a handle made from Pine. After assembly a starchy glue(possibly Sago) was  used to fix the Sa Paper or other covering to to this frame. After drying, lacquer was applied.  Painting by individual artists then followed before more lacquer(water proofing) was applied.

The resulting products where then left open for further drying.

Artists at Sa Paper Umbrella Centre.

Painting Finished Sa Paper Umbrella Chiang Mai ThailandThere are several full time artists at the centre who decorate the Sa Paper umbrellas. All the work is free style hand painted using oil based paint.

The artists work to lots of different traditional and not so traditional themes.  The most famous design being an Asian girl riding a bicycle while holding a parasol which you will find featured in many places worldwide. As well as in real life at the annual Bo Sang Umbrella fair every January.

The artists also exhibit different designs that they will paint onto any article you would like, for example one guy tried very hard to get me to have a picture of an elephant painted onto my camera hold all!

There are several different Sa umbrella factories and communes around Chiang Mai but the Sa Paper and Umbrella Handicraft Centre that I visited was very interesting and despite being a commercial concern they were not pushy with sales in fact they seemed quite happy to let me wander round browsing and taking photographs.  Well worth a visit if you are in Chiang Mai.

Related posts:

  1. Trip to Chiang Mai
  2. Funny and Unusual Things in Thailand
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  • http://www.thaisabai.org Martyn

    Mike I did see paper parasols at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market but I tend to avoid buying such delicate things like them. My neatly packed suitcase is checked in at Suvarnabhumi and somehow turns into a suitcase full of debris by the time I get home in the UK. That’s the reason why I avoid such delightful offerings.

    The trip to the Sa Paper and Umbrella Handicraft Centre is one I’d have taken if I’d seen it advertised. Maybe next time.

    The top photograph is a smashing one.

    Is the lady sewing her Achilles tendon back together in the middle one?

    The lady in the bottom one looks like a drummer in a very colourful band.

    Nice post and definitely worth a bird impression.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Hi Martyn, the old girl is actually splitting(not spitting) bamboo with a very sharp blade that’s fixed to the blue thing on her finger. She then shapes the spokes of the umbrellas.

      The drummer was painting.  She just did it from memory and drew the shapes with the oil paint.

      No bird impression but I can do a Tokay Gecko!

  • http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/ Emm

    So beautiful! I used to collect umbrella like this and lanterns too when I was about 19 years old.  Somewhere along the way I changed my theme from Thai to Indian though as my room became a mass of Indian tapestries and drapes.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Hi Emm they make lanterns at the factory too as well as the paper mini hot air balloons that are released during festivals here.

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