The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok

The Jim
Bangkok
Thompson
House
in
You have not only beautiful things, but what is rare you have
arranged them with faultless taste (Somerset Maugham about Jim
Thompson)
When the British playwright and novelist Somerset Maugham
visited the Jim Thompson House in 1959 on his final journey
through Far East Asia, he was amazed at Thompson’s unique art
and antique collection. He was impressed by the fact how well
every detail fitted together thus contributing to the overall
charm of the house. Indeed, the house is legendary and so is
its owner.
Jim Thompson (photo credit:
jimthompsonfabrics.com)
The American Jim Thompson (1906-1967) became known as the
‘Legendary American of Thailand’ for several merits. First, he
was a self-made entrepreneur who founded the renowned Jim
Thompson Thai Silk Company. Thus, he helped to develop the
Thai Silk industry and was awarded the Order of the White
Elephant for his exceptional service to Thailand. Hence, he
can be considered one of the most famous post war legends of
Asia.
The Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok*
What is more, Thompson is also renowned for having constructed
a charming Thai style house in Bangkok which is a museum
today. In fact, the Jim Thompson House is a complex of six
traditional Thai houses made from teakwood. Teak was a
material for the more affluent; it was more expensive than
other kinds of wood because of its durability. Hence, the
individual houses were purchased from several owners from
different parts of the country. Therefore, the original
Thompson house was reconstructed from all or parts of the six
separate houses that were hundred or more years old.
Thompson’s art & antique collection*
Hence, the Jim Thompson House reflects what its owner
appreciated most about Thailand and in particular
about Bangkok. Thompson very much cherished the nostalgia of
old Bangkok, including the life along the waterways. What is
more, he enjoyed the peace and calm of a tropical jungle
landscape that muted the noises of the busy city. Up until
today, the house has preserved its unique appeal.
The special feature of old traditional Thai houses is that
they were constructed without using nails. Thus, if families
wanted to move away, they could simply take their house down
and relocate it. In fact, the structure of Thai houses is
similar to temples. Hence, Thai houses have steep roofs and
walls inclining to the centre. This kind of construction
ensures that the house remains cool since the warm air can
rise to the top of the roofs. In addition, numerous windows
and doors contribute to an uninterrupted air flow.
Inside the Jim Thompson House*
What is more, the houses were also elevated for several
reasons – to keep wildlife at bay and to facilitate air
circulation. If you have been to a traditional Thai house, you
will certainly also have noticed the raised thresholds. They
mainly served to keep babies and small children from falling
into the water. However, Thai belief also says that the raised
threshold will keep evil spirits away from the house.
The Drawing Room*
The main house of the complex an early 19th century building
from the silk weaving village of Ban Krua located across the
klong. This is the drawing room in which an opulent crystal
chandelier from a former palace decorates the ceiling.
Traditional Thai house*
A further element in this complex is the kitchen from the mid
19th century which also came from the weaving village. The
remaining structures were brought there from Ayutthaya since
Thompson found most of his treasures in the village ‘Pak Hai’
located northwest from the former capital city. The houses
could be easily taken down and stacked on barges so
that they could be shipped by river directly to Bangkok.
In addition, some pieces of Thompson’s art collection, which
can be classified into the categories of sculptures,
paintings, porcelain and other collectible items, also came
from Ayutthaya. Furthermore, he got his acquisitions from
shops in Nakorn Kasem, the Chinese quarter of Bangkok
(Chinatown), which was a repository for fine antiques at his
time.
Café & fish pond*
Today, the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok also has a nice
Café with a beautiful fish pond outside. The sight of the big
trees, luscious greens and the colourful huge fishes invites
the visitor to pause for a moment and relax
Have you been to
this place?
Yours, Sirinya
*photo credit: The Jim Thompson House