Framed Thai Silk Painting of Prince Rama in a Chariot

This is a traditional Thai silk painting, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century. The artwork is executed on a dark hunter green silk textured ground, featuring intricate hand-painted or silk-screened details in metallic gold and white pigments. The subject matter depicts a classical scene from the Ramakien (the Thai version of the Ramayana), showcasing Prince Rama or a similarly high-ranking deity/hero figure standing in a highly decorative royal chariot. The chariot is pulled by a mythical horse and driven by a smaller monkey-like figure, possibly Hanuman or a vanara soldier. The central figure is dressed in elaborate traditional Thai 'khon' attire, characterized by a tall pointed 'chada' crown and highly detailed patterns representing embroidered silk. The artistic style is identified by its flat perspective, rhythmic line work, and traditional motifs such as the 'lai kranok' patterns. The piece is housed in a vintage gilt wood frame carved to simulate bamboo, a popular mid-century framing style for Southeast Asian art. The silk appears well-preserved within the glass, showing no significant fading or water damage, though there is a slight ripple in the fabric tension towards the bottom left. The frame shows minor shelf wear and age-related darkening of the gold leaf or paint, which contributes to its vintage character. This type of souvenir art was highly popular for export from Thailand between the 1960s and 1980s, showcasing skilled local craftsmanship and religious storytelling.