Thai craftsmanship evolved in service to power, so state pageantry conveys meaning and magic through ornamented costumes, gateways and my tholoigical taleaux. There are so detailed, detailed, delicate and finessed that Thai floats regulary win the Paradena Rose Parade in California. At home, competition between pround groups keeps standards high and ensures diversity. Yet designs look coherent because artisans-though suffering the loss of masters, oral knowledge and everyday usage-use lai thai traditional patterns. This language of iconic shapes transfers well to modern materials and techniques