One of Bangkok's most interesting and charming museums is located on the bank of a canal amid the lush greenery of a tropical garden. The museum, founded on the legacy of Jim Thompson, consists of six unusual houses - these are traditional Thai teakwood homes that were brought here from the provinces by special order for him. Inside the red houses, some of which are already more than 200 years old, are exhibits from the personal collection of the museum's founder.
He collected Thai art and household items, searched for antiques and restored them, and found unique statuettes, paintings, and engravings. The result of his passion for Thai culture was a large collection of rare exhibits that reflect the country's history and culture over the course of thirteen centuries. A large hall in one of the houses is dedicated to the life and work of Jim Thompson himself.
Who was this legendary man? Thompson was born in America in 1906 and was a talented architect. During World War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and ended up in Thailand as part of the strategic forces. Jim was so enchanted by the culture and nature of this country that after the war he decided to radically change his судьбу and moved here to live. Having taken up the revival of Thai silk production, which was in a state of complete decline, Jim managed to restore both industrial and handcrafted production of exquisite silk, and then opened branded stores in Bangkok. Moreover, it was Jim Thompson who popularized Thai silk throughout the world, and to this day magnificent lengths of silk and products made from it are sold under his name, which became a trademark.
