Jim Thompson House Museum

Hello, and welcome back travel enthusiasts. Today I will introduce you to a true must-see in Bangkok, that will show you a different side of history. We know, Bangkok is vast and sights are all over the place when your time there is probably limited. Even though we were in Bangkok for about three months we still missed so many great spots. But trust us on this one, Jim Thompson House Museum is worth your time. It is not just a museum but an absolute institution where you can get caught in the not-so-distant past. 

Who Was Jim Thompson?

Jim Thompson is a name that we often came upon on our travels around South East Asia. If you remember our Mandarin Oriental Bangkok History article, he was a former owner of that hotel, and when we were at Cameron Highlands Resort, we visited summer residence, from where he disappeared into the Malaysian jungle.

Jim Thompson’s Early Days

In 1906 James Harrison Wilson Thompson was born in Greenville, Delaware, the United States. His mother was from a military family when his father was a textile manufacturer. Jim studied architecture, and between 1931-1940, designed many elite houses in New York. However, designing houses wasn’t his only passion. He had an eye for esthetics and was fond of many sleek designs. After all, he was working for Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where he showed some serious interest in costume design.

A Spy

When WW2 broke out, Jim worked for the Office of Strategic Services (the precursor of the CIA) which was based all over the world. At last, he was stationed in Ceylon (today’s Sri Lanka) where the preparations for invading Thailand were in progress. Thankfully, Japan surrendered and the invasion wasn’t necessary. Regardless, Jim decided to visit Thailand anyway, and here his career got a boost. 

Thailand Under His Skin

Just like many other farangs (Thai word for Caucasians), Jim fell in love with Thailand and its people. At first, he wanted to take over Oriental Hotel Bangkok, the oldest hotel in Thailand. After some disagreements about the hotel expansion, he decided it is time for a change. Although his affection for Thai culture, cuisine, and people remained strong.

In Bangkok’s small community called Ban Krua, Jim discovered an enclave of Thai weavers. He was so impressed by outstanding patterns, colors, and silk itself that he wanted to share it with the West. Until then the Western world imported cheaper machine-made Japanese silk. Jim seized an opportunity with both hands. Acting swiftly he improved the weaving and coloring process and presented silk to the leading names in fashion.

Thai Silk Company

At that point, his company named Thai Silk Company was established. When in 1951 the silk fabrics of the Thai Silk Company were used for the famous musical The King and I, things moved very fast. Suddenly, silk was trendy in all fashion pores. From Milano, New York to Paris, everyone wanted Thai silk. Thompson’s Thai silk business prospered and he could dedicate himself to his pursuit – collecting Southeast Asian art.

Jim Thompson’s House

Jim Thompson owned a large collection of historical Buddhist sculptures, traditional Thai paintings made of wood, cloth, and paper, fine china, and various objets d’art. His vast collection found a home at his new Thai home, consisting of six old teakwood houses. Houses were brought to Bangkok from Ayutthaya province, with the oldest and the most impressive dating from around 1800, a former weaver’s house from the Cham village of Bahn Krua (near Bangkok). The house itself is a gem also because of Jim’s additions like Italian marble, Belgian glass, and other western elements. On top of that, there is a lush green space connecting all six houses and providing a vibrant living space.

Jim Thompson’s Art Collection

As I said before, his silk industry boomed and he traveled all around the world due to business and pleasure. On this travels, he was always “on the hunt” for art pieces and extraordinary items. His main interest was oriental art from South East Asia. His vast collection is today under The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, displayed in Jim Thompson House Museum and neighboring Jim Thompson Art Center. Some pieces are very rare and he rescued them from extinction.

Jim Thompson’s Disappearance

Like many westerners, he liked to escape tropical heat in the Cameron Highlands. The cooler climate feels refreshing and allows English roses to bloom year-round. To this day people like to call Cameron Highlands Malaysia’s Little England. On Easter, Sunday 26 March 1967 spirits were high in Moonlight Bungalow, where Jim Thompson enjoyed his holidays.

No one noticed anything unusual when he went for an afternoon stroll. The problem appeared when he failed to return before sunset, he simply disappeared and that was it. The body was never found despite the comprehensive rescuing mission.

Even today people are guessing what happened. Some say he became tiger’s lunch, others suggest the murder, but no one really knows. His life was always shrouded in mystery. There are even some speculations that he never stopped working for the US government. The mystery was compounded after his sister was murdered in her house in Delaware six months later by an unknown assailant.

Jim Thompson’s Legacy

Jim Thompson’s company has helped thousands of Thai families generate income. For all his merits, he was awarded the Order of the White Elephant in 1962. This is the highest award for foreigners who contributed to Thailand. Today, his legacy is protected under The James H.W. Thompson Foundation. All these; Jim Thompson House Museum, Jim Thompson Farm, Silk Company, restaurants, and Art Center are part of his heritage.

A complete collection of collected art pieces are on display at Jim Thompson House Museum and near Art Center. Let’s not ignore that by visiting the home of a successful businessman we get a glimpse into his life. We can easier understand his affection for silk when we see the end products. Jim Thompson silk products are premium quality and are selling all over the world as luxury goods. We love silk and Jim Thompson will remain our very best silk fabric.

Thank you for your time and I hope I explained to you why Jim Thompson is so important for Thai culture and why Jim Thompson House Museum is a must-see here in Bangkok. Next time, I will show a few shots from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where Vivi paraded in their silk.