Narrator: Strip away the surface of these shells,
and you reveal a shiny layer called mother-of-pearl.
And in Thailand, it's been used to make ornaments
that decorate palaces and temples for over seven centuries.
It can take half a year
and as many as 20,000 pieces
to complete one inlay.
At 57, Jukkit Suksawat is one of the last craftsmen
preserving this traditional art.
Narrator: But the craft almost disappeared
during the Burmese-Siamese war in the 18th century.
So what makes mother-of-pearl unique,
and how is the centuries-old craft still standing?
Rattan is the base of every inlay.
It is light and easy to shape.
Narrator: Jukkit used to be a rice farmer,
but today he finds inspiration
in the nature that surrounds his quiet workshop
in Bua Pak Tha.
Narrator: Working with the shells
poses the biggest challenges.
It can take 30 minutes to clean and smooth
the rough surface of one shell
and reach the mother-of-pearl.
Jukkit uses the shells of turban snails.
But it's not always easy to get a hold of them.
So he buys them from India and Indonesia.
One kilogram of shells can cost as much
a 1,700 Thai baht, or about $50.
Narrator: He says these last longer
and hide a stunning surface inside.
Narrator: He's careful to shape the shells
without damaging them.
This task can be dangerous, but Jukkit is used
to it after doing it for 30 years.
Then it's time to carve it into shape.
It can take over six hours to carve these designs
on the mother-of-pearl.
But Jukkit doesn't mind the work.
Even when he worked in the rice fields,
he says he was always interested in art.
Narrator: Nowadays, he enjoys carving in solitude.
Narrator: He cuts 213 pieces for this design
and places them one by one on the sketch.
This black mixture will serve as the glue.
And Jukkit makes it himself, combining the sap
from the lacquer tree with burned banana leaves.
Narrator: He makes sure the charcoal
from the banana leaves is jet black,
then finally pounds it with a stone mortar and pestle.
Then he filters the liquid with a thin, white cloth to
remove impurities.
The sap contains toxic oils
that can cause allergic reactions.
So Jukkit wears gloves to protect his skin.
He covers the whole design with a thin layer of the paste.
Narrator: With wet, soft sandpaper,
he cleans the excess lacquer off the mother-of-pearl.
He will polish and recoat it multiple times
until the lacquer and mother-of-pearl pieces
are leveled to a smooth surface.
The final touch is a layer of oil that adds a glossy look.
Art that combined lacquer and mother-of-pearl
thrived in Thailand during the Ayutthaya period
between the 14th and 18th centuries.
Buddhist temples like the Wat Borom Phuttharam
had mother-of-pearl door panels.
The temple was destroyed when
the Burmese attacked the ancient capital
of Thailand in 1767.
Some doors and inlays were saved.
And in 2007, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
assigned a group of artists to make new ones for the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha scripture hall.
Jukkit says he was one of those artisans.
Today he's one of the last
in Thailand focusing on mother-of-pearl conservation.
Narrator: It takes him one month to finish a small piece.
Larger ones can take six months to a year
and can cost more than $2,000.
He sells them mainly through custom orders.
This ancient technique is time-consuming and labor-intensive,
and younger generations are not interested in the craft.
But Jukkit is teaching the art to his nephew.
Narrator: Hi, this is the Still Standing team.
Over the past year, we've met artisans from
around the world who preserve traditional methods
and techniques, like preparing soy sauce in Japan,
cleaning leather in Morocco,
and making the perfect mirrors in India.
If you enjoy our videos, please like
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keeping centuries-old traditions alive.
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Thank you.