Ringing joyfully, this bell from Thailand displays elephant motifs and an oxidized green finish for an antique aesthetic. Teerasak Chaiwong creates this bell, perfect as a wind or door chime, as well as simple home decor. This bell swings from a satin ribbon.
"I have the warmth of my family and a lovely daughter who tells me she loves me each morning before going to school. It is encouraging and I'm happy every day. I hope you like our Thai art."
"Sawasdee krap. My name is Teerasak Chaiwong, but my nickname is Poo. I was born and grew up with my little sister in..."Sawasdee krap. My name is Teerasak Chaiwong, but my nickname is Poo. I was born and grew up with my little sister in Chiang Mai, where my parents are merchants and work in an orchard.
"When I was young, I had nothing special, like most of the people in the countryside. Every morning, I helped my parents in their shop on a small platform in front of our house. We sold groceries, sundries and food, and always had many customers, mostly neighbors.
"My sister and I always walked to school together, carrying our lunch box and school bag. At 10 a.m., our parents closed the shop and went to work on the orchard, then came back to open the shop again in the evening.
"When I was fifteen, I chose to study art, as art school wasn't too difficult and I could pass the entrance exam. I disliked mathematics and art majors didn't have to study math at all. My parents always encouraged me to study well. I was lucky because we come from the countryside. During the old times, people like us dreamed of working in government offices as police, nurses or soldiers. I admit I wanted to be a soldier or policeman, too.
"At first, my parents worried about my career after graduation. They'd jokingly tell the neighbors that as soon as I graduated, I'd come back to draw on the walls of our village temple. That would have taken most of my life because the temple has a very long wall.
"After art school, I continue to Bangkok Art College, which was a challenge because I spent time in the big city. I lived in the home of a relative. Here, everyone studying for a master’s degree is concerned with Thai history. I was amazed, but I also spent weekends studying traditional Thai art. They all told me when they were young, they were never mindful of Thai identity but they regret that now, so I seriously devoted time to my artistic efforts.
"Classmates envied me because I come from Chiang Mai, a land of unique and outstanding culture with many old temples so without hesitation, I chose to focus mainly on Thai art. It is incredibly attractive to see, with beautiful designs and also a reflection of Thai life, because where did those designs come from? For example, the flower design, the flame and various animal motifs.
"After I graduated, I came back home and really did work at our village temple, restoring the ancient murals. I was so proud because I had to be delicate and patient, taking much care with these images from antiquity. I also had the opportunity to fix and renovate the old pagodas, which only men are permitted to repair. These pagodas contained relics of Lord Buddha, monks' robes or auspicious antiques.
"I married Tiraphan, a Novica-featured artisan, and we had a daughter who is not in the best of health. Afterwards, I stopped working for a while to look after her. But whenever I'm free, I always go to work at the temple. When I'm taking care of my daughter, I also help my wife craft beaded jewelry although I'm not very good at it. At least I can help her with the last steps, like cutting the ends of the strings and packaging her designs.
"I draw and design greeting cards that everyone likes, and I was very happy to earn money from an activity I really love. My wife's jewelry has been very well accepted through Novica and, with her encouragement, I was inspired to show my art on the website too.
"I work with handmade saa paper made from the bark of mulberry branches. I currently create greeting cards in the traditional Thai style and decorate them with hand-stamped elephants and flowers on aluminum. I like natural materials that are made by hand. My boxes are crafted from banana fibers because when the bananas turn ripe, we usually cut off the trunk and a new banana tree grows from the roots. We used to feed the trunks to the pigs, but today the trunks are often discarded, so I began to craft paper with them. The paper's unusual pattern is beautiful and we are recycling the earth's gifts.
"I have the warmth of my family and a lovely daughter who hugs and kisses me and tells me she loves me each morning before going to school. It is encouraging and I'm happy every day. I hope you like our Thai art. Novica, thank you so much."
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.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 4 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!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
Turn your gift-giving into an art form with our new premium gift wrapping service!
Delivering a beautiful handmade treasure, wrapped by hand in exquisite packaging will make your gifts truly unforgettable.
Above all, it's EASY! Just select the premium gift wrapping option during checkout and we do the rest. No more last minute worries about presentation - your gifts will be the best dressed every time!
Most premium gift wrap is only $3.95 - $5.95 per item.
UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
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.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will benefit UNICEF's programs that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
You can learn more about UNICEF's work, on About UNICEF.
WIN # 3 Artisans Profit!
UNICEF Market artisans set their own prices and control their own businesses. UNICEF Market offers artisans a free platform to sell their work throughout the United States.
