A master carver creates exquisite animal figures from an unusual material. We can call buffalo horn art.
Unlike other sculptures armed with hammers and miniature chisels, our family don’t go near wood, stone, steel or even clay. Unusually, our family specializes in water buffalo horn or buffalo horn art.
Under our family caring hands, Hundreds of buffalo horns have been transformed into figurines of animals such as owls, elephants, and cats. All details of the creatures, including the fine plumage of birds, the wrinkled skin of elephant or the smell scales of a fish are expertly rendered.
What’s foreigner thinks about buffalo horn?
The highly popular products sell well at home and abroad in countries like the US, Japan, China and Germany.
A lot of foreign visitors want the buffaloes, after seeing the importance of the animal in rural Thai society. They want a keepsake that reminds them of the Thai landscape. Foreigners also go for pairs of plain black horns, because of their beautiful curving shape.
Buffalo horns, often regarded as garbage, are now the main source of income for folk at the Bang Kwan Community in Thailand. Which has become the country’s largest buffalo horn crafts center.
Where are the materiel came from?
The village receives horns from slaughterhouses around the country. We feel grateful to the buffaloes. Because of them, We have a better standard of living. We owe a lot of this creature, because We use every part of it.
The horns make an excellent “canvas” for the sculptures. Wood and clay are very common. Buffalo horn is extraordinary. It has captivating shapes and color. The black backdrop enhances the beauty of the pieces. And the horns are incredibly durable.
When a Story Really Begins ?
Our grandfather stared visiting Dusit Zoo every day to study animal anatomy, and studied illustrations in books. “The animal must look realistic. That means you have to get the anatomy, and the face especially, exactly right. I pay a lot of attention to every detail, like the skin and the scales of fish. Everything must be correct and in proportion”
The hardest jobs are birds’ plumage and fish scales, because great detail is required. If the artist makes a mistake along the way, the piece is useless and has to be discarded.
“It’s pretty time-consuming. But you can’t take short-cuts. It’s the detail that makes the products more realistic and special. We check every piece before it leaves here. It must be Grade-A quality, perfect from head to toe.”
The work takes a lot of time and care. “It requires a lot of patience, especially with big animal like elephants and horse. We have to figure out which part of horn is suitable. For example, the end part of a horn is perfect for making a miniature owl. The beautiful curving section is good for making a proud-looking peacock.
Which animal are the most popular?
“Owls are the best sellers abroad. They’re considered auspicious birds in other countries. The Japanese love climbing perch. Chinese like a design with three dragons on the one horn, representing power, blessings and prestige. Thai clients love figures of quail, goldfish, climbing perch and animals from Chinese Zodiac.
Figures of the sarus crane, symbol of long lasting love, are also sought-after. Many go to the US.
The horn are priced at anything between 30$- 300$, and ones with “defects”, such as natural scarring and scratches, are highly valued.
“Many customers say the makes left naturally are part of the pieces artistic charm. They say that if a horn is too smooth it looks like it’s a fake”
We are currently designing a new range of product, including combs, ladles, bracelets, gun handles, Chess pieces and key rings.
Our work was awarded a best community product prize from the authorities last year and is being promoted under the One Tambon One Product scheme.
We transform what would otherwise be “trash” into a good living. We’re all grateful to the animal that has made this possible for us.
We have some little creature from buffalo horn art. Check here!!