Phra Ngo Nam Oi • Pim Yai • Nur Din • BE 2470–2475 (1927–1932 CE)
Luang Phor Yim (LP Yim) • Wat Jao Jit / Wat Chao Chet Nai, Ayutthaya • Early Fired Clay Series
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Provenance & Historical Note
In Ayutthaya’s river plains, Luang Phor Yim gathered earth from sacred grounds, mixed it with relic powders and auspicious binders, and pressed it into molds that echoed older Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet idioms. The result was the celebrated Phra Ngo Nam Oi series in Nur Din (fired sacred clay), issued across BE 2470–2475. The Pim Yai (large mold) is admired for its dignified massing and calm field, a devotional object meant as both protection and reminder of disciplined practice.
Collector discourse links this workshop to a broader Ayutthaya revival: temple artisans carved stone molds; disciples pressed and trimmed tablets; kilns were improvised from alms bowls. The clay body often shows crab-shell soil and herbal particulates — a vernacular recipe that bridges folk charisma, merit-making, and conservation of old forms.
Contextual Insight: Early 20th-century Ayutthaya nur din frequently displays earthy tonality, kiln freckles, micro-grit (including shell/silica), and gentle apex wear. Under raking light, one expects layered granularity and occasional wood-grain tool marks on the reverse — indicators of hand preparation and modest firing.
Materials, Iconography & Technical Notes
| Primary Material | Nur Din (fired sacred clay) with relic powder, incense ash, herbal binders; crab-shell soil inclusions |
| Craft Method | Stone-carved molds; hand-pressing; trimming; alms-bowl/low-kiln firing |
| Era | BE 2470–2475 (1927–1932 CE), Ayutthaya revival workshop |
| Master / Temple | Luang Phor Yim • Wat Jao Jit / Wat Chao Chet Nai, Ayutthaya |
| Iconography | Ngo Nam Oi (sweet-syrup gourd idiom): robust massing; folk-classic silhouette; provincial piety |
Workshop Story & Ritual Grammar
Inspiration & Intention: LP Yim looked back to ancient phra phim of Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, and Ayutthaya — aiming toward a canonical “84,500” set as an act of preservation and teaching.
Materials & Mixing: Soil enriched with crab-shell earth, rice remnants, incense ash, sacred powders, and herbs was kneaded to a tactile matrix. The crab-shell component was culturally read as enhancing popularity and metta.
Carving & Molding: Close disciples carved molds from sharpening stone; monks and lay assistants pressed, trimmed, and textured the backs — leaving the recognizable wood-grain slashes on many examples.
Firing & Finish: Alms-bowl firings produced brick brown to grey-green tones, occasional bronze/silver coating, and the kiln freckles prized by collectors today.
Traditional Attributes & Doctrinal Function
- Protection (klaew klad) and obstacle removal through disciplined observance
- Metta (mahaniyom) and personal appeal — linked in folk lore to crab-shell soil symbolism
- Prosperity (maha larp) supportive of fair trade and household harmony
Note: Attributes are presented within Thai cultural belief; outcomes vary with faith, conduct, and practice.
Related Forms from LP Yim’s Workshop
Somdej (Bodhi-leaf & Halo molds); Phra Ruang (standing blessing, walking); Phra Buddha Chinnarat; Khun Phaen; Phra Kon Samo; Phra Kleep Bua; Phra Nang Phaya (lotus-base, soft-arm, water-drop); Luang Pho To; Buddha Hanuman (left/right/large-head); Phra Pidta; Nang Kwak.
Field Anecdote
When doubters questioned efficacy, LP Yim famously knotted a handkerchief and invited a test shot; the gun misfired. Whether read as miracle or moral theatre, the tale survives as a lesson: faith is safeguarded by conduct, not bravado.
Rarity & Collector Assessment
Pim Yai examples in coherent clay with readable tool marks, mature surface, and honest apex wear are increasingly curated. Comparative study with Wat Bang Nom Kho colorways and Ayutthaya stone-mold idioms supports workshop attribution; provenance notes and institutional examination further strengthen confidence.
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Disclaimer: This profile balances academic diction (provenance, iconography, material analysis) with accessible explanation. Certification supports but does not alone constitute authenticity; buyers should conduct independent due diligence where necessary.