Mosaics and tilework in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Posted by razzbuffnik on July 15th, 2008
When my wife and I were in South East Asia last year I took these photos of some of the various mosaics and tilework that I came across.
This first example is of a Persian style, moraq tile mosaic from the front of the excellent Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Just about everywhere you look in Thailand there is a temple adorned with mosaics and tilework made up from porcelain, mirrors and tiles. The most stunning examples can be seen in The Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
Below is a close up of the patterns on the corners of the columns created with mirrors.
Below is an example of the Thai use of purpose made ceramic tiles.
In Vietnam much of the mosaic and tilework was made with broken porcelain and glass.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:40 am
The dragon is fantastic.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I love the first photo! Well, I love the tiles, to be exact
I would never imagine you can see something like this in Malasia, but, when I think about it again… Makes sense, especially given the location where you took the photo.
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am
All quite simply bee-ooo-tiful. Especially the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which positively glows…
July 17th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Brooks
The dragon is actually a qilin. I bought a very nice bronze statue of one when I was in Vietnam last year. Here’s a link about the qilin I bought and what they symbolize if you’re interested.
http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2008/02/13/bronze-qilin-hoi-an-vietnam/
The world nearly lost a lot of stunning art and architecture during the Vietnam war. Hue copped a pounding during the “Tet offensive” and many important heritage sites were destroyed.
Cashmere
I love those tile as well. I’d love to have the money to be able to decorate a room with them or perhaps an outside courtyard area.
Epic
I love the decorative arts of South East Asia. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is an amazing continuos crescendo of colour and design. It just goes on and on and on. Quite mind blowing.
February 9th, 2012 at 1:56 am
Which city and where exactly did you see the dragon in Vietnam? I love tiles and mosaics and would love to see it for myself since I live in Ho Chi Minh City. Were there more like that?
Thanks for sharing!
February 9th, 2012 at 5:44 am
Minh
Hue at the old palace. I think it was part of the emperor’s mother’s compound.