เศียรพระพุทธรูปสำริด

พระพุทธรูปศิลาขาว ศิลปะทวารวดี

ครุฑโขนเรือไม้จำหลัก

ข้อมูลจากหนังสือเครื่องทองกรุงศรีอยุธยา

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum is the most important museum in Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, and used to display Ayutthaya arts and antiques. The museum was built in 1959 from a sum of money donated by people buying Buddhist votive tablets discovered from a hiding place at Wat Ratburana with the tatal money of 3,416,928 baht. The museum was open to people on December 26, 1961. Due to the fact that Wat Ratburana was built in the reign of King Chao Sam Phraya, the museum was also named “Chao Sam Phraya”.

The museum comprises 3 main buildings:

1. A group of Thai-styled houses
The houses were built and put over a pond. They are displayed as conservation of Thai styled houses in the middle region. House appliances are also displayed showing Thai people houses in the old style.
2. A building showing Thai arts
This two-storey building is used to display artistic objects from many periods, which could be collected in Ayutthaya, such as, from Tawaravadee period {a Buddha image made of stone, standing on Panasbodee’s (king of forest, the big tree that produces fruits without flowers) head and a standing Buddha image made of archaic in the posture of granting blessings}, Srivichai period (a Buddha image’s head made of archaic), Sukhothai period (Thai porcelains, especially dolls), Chiangsaen and Ayutthaya periods (A base for Buddha image made of baked clay , a figure of goddess of the earth and heads of Buddha’s follower images made of baked clay) and Rattanakosin period (a piece of marble carved and telling a part of an epic, Ramayana, from Wat Bodh).
3. Chao Sam Phraya Building
Chao Sam Phraya is the main and important building because it is used to keep important artistic objects and antiques of Ayutthaya period.

Things displayed on the first floor:

The archaic Buddha image’s head

- The archaic Buddha image’s haed is displayed downstairs in Chao Sam Phraya Building. It is a big Buddha image’s head in U-Thong style moved from Wat Thammikarat. The image is beautiful in agreement with characteristics of Buddhist arts. Moreover, it shows Ayutthaya people’s knowledge and ability in casting molten metal.
- Additonally, a lot of Buddha images in various styles and made by many modelers of many periods are displayed in a row of glass cabinets on the right side downstairs. Most of them were collected from Wat Mongkhol Bophit and Wat Ratburana. The displays also include the remainders of models in the styles of Ayutthaya arts collected from the main stupa at Wat Mahathat, for example, models of Garuda, Sukhreep (A monkey soldier in the epic, Ramayana) pulling dton rang (A kind of trees), and etc.
A Buddha image made of white stone in Thavaravadi style of arts
-The Buddha image in Thavaravadi style was moved from Wat Na Phra Mane, the same as the principal Buddha image in the small wihan at the temple.
-The displays of small models in baked clay, such as the model of a boy carrying a cock, foreigners (Dutch) with a dog, and etc.
-Carved wood in various figures are also displayed on the left side of the hall downstairs: door keepers, a door panel made of wood from Wat Phra Si Sanphet, a door panel carved in plants and flowers from Wat Wihan Thong, and a gable carved in the figure of the god Vishnu riding Garuda surrounded by demons, and etc.
-A prow in the figure of Garuda carved from wood is displayed at the foot of the stairs at the end of the hall. It is a sample of prows in figures of animals used in Ayutthaya period.

Things displayed on the second floor:

House appliances in many families of porcelain from many countries are displayed on the second floor, including Buddha images, Buddha images’ heads, models of buildings, pottery made of baked clay, Phra Bot (paintings of Buddha pictures hung for paying homage) in colors, a wooden seat of sermon carved in patterns and many beautiful bookcases of Buddha’s teaching. The most important places are rooms on both side of the hall:
Hong Mahathat (Mahathat Room)
This room is used to display gold wares and Buddha’s relics discovered at a hiding place at Wat Mahathat, including a diagram showing the situation of Buddha relics which was the most important event in Ayutthaya period. The Buddha’s relic container with seven levels on top of each other is also displayed. Remarkably, we can see the Buddha’s relics inside them.
Hong Ratburana (Ratburana Room)
The artistic objects found at Wat Ratburana are displayed in this room, comprising  ornaments made of gold and precious stones, Phra Saengkhan Chaisri (The king’s royal sword), a sheet of gold pushed up into the model of the stupa, models of royal insignias, royal necklaces, Sangwan Thabsuang (Sashes of gold and diamonds), Soy Pahurat (Ornaments for the arms), Thong Phrakorn (Royal bracelets) made from gold and precious stones, small crowns used to cover men’s topknots, but for women, the crowns were made from strings of gold woven in nets used to cover heads.

References
Kasetsiri, Chanwit, editor. (n.d.). Discovering Ayutthaya. pp. 116-119.
Pictorial illustration retrieved from: Discovering Ayutthaya on http://www.oknation.net
Thongchan, Ritthidet. (n.d.). Technical expert on arts (level 7), the Office of Fine Arts,
Region 3, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya.