Thai bird man

thingiverse

A mythical bird-man from Central Thailand dating back to approximately 1775-1850 graces our collection, gifted by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Southeast Asian Art Collection in 2006.27.24. In Buddhist legend, these bird-men and women dwell in the enchanted Himavanta Forest. Thai art often portrays these mystical creatures. These wooden figures played a significant role in various royal ceremonies including King Rama IV's coronation in 1851 where it is mentioned to contain a relic of the Buddha. This tradition likely dated back centuries. Such statues are rare, with only a few housed in Bangkok's National Museum. The spire of this figure's crown was replaced presumably in the twentieth century. Scanned using 123D Catch iPhone app, repaired using Meshmixer and mirrored symmetrically. Print with support material for overhanging arms and wings.