Habit of an Ambassador from Siam in 1749

by Thomas Jefferys

The hand-colored engraving shown above was first printed in London between 1757 and 1772 by Thomas Jefferys, a well-known cartographer and geographer of the Enlightenment period. It can be found in the famous book A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, and it portrays the dress code of the Siamese diplomat in 1749.

In the picture, the diplomat appears in full length with a highly ornamented, high-pointed hat that resembles the Lomphok headdress worn by the nobility in Thailand. He wears a coat trimmed with fur and decorated with blue and orange stripes, a belt, and a ceremonial sword or scimitar hanging from his waist. In addition, he holds a staff in his right hand, reflecting the dignity, richness, and sovereignty of the Ayutthaya Kingdom at its peak.