Roses bloom exuberantly on a wall panel of delicate beauty. Jamras Thapinta selects a circular form to embrace the profusion of flowers. Inspired by his own garden, he shapes prized sustainably harvested teak wood into an extraordinary sculpture.
Because each piece is crafted by hand and kiln dried, slight irregularities in the grain and finish are to be expected.
Made in Thailand
Teak wood
Each artwork is unique -- wood grain, color, and pattern will differ slightly from picture
"[My work] gives me the feeling of achieving something grand, it gives me a spiritual strength that sustains me."
The artistry of Jamras Thapinta has been featured in various periodicals, including Midwest Parenting Magazine. "My name...The artistry of Jamras Thapinta has been featured in various periodicals, including Midwest Parenting Magazine.
"My name is Jamras Thapinta and I was born in 1956 at the foot of Doi Saket, a little hill in the district of Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. My childhood memories go back to 1962, when I would play by my father's side as he worked on wood. I was always impressed and admiring when he worked the wood, making every conceivable object: wooden utensils for my mother and our relatives, little bamboo toys for my sisters and me, etc. I guess it was a traditional activity in our rural village for he told me that he learned this craft from his grandfather. Of course, growing in a wood-making environment eventually got me imitating my father, rather banging on wood with his chisels than carving. All my friends and I used to play with wood at a very early age and we took it for granted, as it was a complete part of our life. For example I could effortlessly make my first wooden toy - a little horse - when I was only eight. By the way, I was so proud that I showed it to everyone in the village, deciding from that moment on that I would become in the future a wood expert.
"My parents were poor and could not send me past primary school, so I dropped out at eleven years old and studied wooden work with my relatives. At the beginning, even though I already quite mastered many techniques and knew the nature of wood, the grown-ups would not allow me to work on masterpieces. I had to work on thankless duties and general work, mostly assisting the old experts, but I progressively learned and eventually got rewarded with 200 bahts - five U.S. dollars - at fifteen years old, for a great finished carving, which took me two weeks to complete. Time went by and I learned various techniques and styles that can be applied to any kind of wood and for very different purposes. Birdcages are an example of the various styles, techniques and woods that can be blended to complete at once a practical and decorative wooden object. I loved woodwork so much but I never had enough money to buy raw material, and I consequently always worked for those who could invest money and employ my relatives and me - rather exploiting us.
"After marrying my wife at 25 years of age I looked for a job that would pay me better wages. We heard that construction business paid well so my friends and I all ended up building houses. A couple of years peacefully passed and we had our first son. The economy was healthy and people frenziedly borrowed loans from banks to buy cars, land, and to build houses, so much that our salaries allowed us to save some money. After careful consideration we pooled our savings with two friends and started running our own construction business. We rapidly earned quite good incomes that we immediately invested in our business. We eventually had enough money to amply support our families and even built our own houses, leading unworried lives for ten years.
"Then the economic crisis tremendously hit Thailand. The cost of living soared and people stopped buying, not to mention building houses. As a result, our incomes reduced to a point where we spent more than we earned. Besides, as they say, it never rains but it pours… machines started to break down, equipment to deteriorate, workers to quit and we pessimistically went to work everyday, anticipating with anguish what would next happen wrong. One of my friends/partners withdrew and my wife sensibly told me to follow him. But the money we invested plus that we borrowed became a lot of debts. I did not know how to stop our financial collapse, and the more I worked, the more I tried to figure out ways to clear my debts and the worse it became. My wife morally had supported me, up to the point where she could not take it anymore and we split up, taking our children with her. Now when I think back on it I realize that I was totally blinded by my obsession, and that there was actually no solution. Life is so unpredictable, for after having worked hard for twenty years I end up with nothing, I lost my family and my properties.
"I worked again on wood after my family left, firstly to pass time, and to think about something else, too. With time passing by I somehow perked up, rediscovering what I really loved to do, that passion of mine that is woodwork, and most importantly what is really important in life, what I really want and who I am. The construction of temples is an act of merit-making for the Thai people, and reproducing birdcages after temples gives me the feeling of achieving something grand, it gives me a spiritual strength that sustains me. Today my life seems to be starting again, along with my woodwork activity."
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
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Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
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