Wearing an elegant collar and adorned with bright flowers, a blue-eyed kitty purrs contentedly. Nantana Sompamitre transforms mango wood into a Korat or Si-Sawat (happiness) cat. Loved throughout Thailand, this natural breed originated in Ampur Pimai in the province of Korat where they have been bred in the royal cattery since 1350. The elegant cat was owned only by royalty and courtiers. Sompamitre carves wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. Once dried it is polished, and another coat is applied up to twenty times. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay and painted by hand.
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