Exotic Objects” in King Chulalongkorn’s Royal Letters from Europe in 1897
Keywords:
exotic objects, royal letters, King Chulalongkorn, being civilizedAbstract
King Chulalongkorn’s royal letters sent from Europe in 1897 record “exotic objects” the King encountered during his trip. The objects can be divided into 1) natural objects and 2) man-made objects. The natural objects became geographical knowledge for Siamese elites. The man-made objects represented gift exchanges, concepts of collecting and museums, and concepts of giving gifts and souvenirs. The significance of the description of the exotic objects was to bridge the cultures of the East and the West. To show Siamese elites taste and expand the worldviews of Siamese elites, the king shared his experiences in Europe under the name of “being civilized”. Exotic objects were an important inspiration and knowledge regarding foreign countries for the modernization of Siam.
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