The most popular theory of the history of vegetable and fruit carving is
that it originates in Thailand. It started during the Loi Kratong
festival in the 14th century. During Loi Kratong, rafts are individually
decorated using many objects, including banana leaves and flowers. In
the year 1364, one of King Phra Ruang’s servants, Nang Noppamart, had
the desire to create a unique decoration for her raft. Nang carved a
flower from a fruit using a real flower as a pattern. She carved a bird
as well and set it beside the flower. Using these carvings, she created a
raft that stood out above the rest. King Phra Ruang was impressed by
the grace and beauty of the carving and decreed that every woman should
learn this new art. As the centuries passed, enthusiasm for this art
waxed and waned. In 1808, King Rama II loved vegetable carving so much
so that he wrote poetry about it. However, during the 1932 revolution in
Thailand, appreciation for vegetable carving died down. In order to
revive interest, it is taught from the age of 11 in primary schools
through secondary school in Thailand. Optional courses are also offered
in universities throughout Thailand.
