The Met Store at the Mandarin Oriental.
The Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York is the second-most visited museum in the world, trailing only after France’s Louvre. This legendary statistic alone should be more than enough to make this institution a must-see whenever you’re in Manhattan. With over 20 centuries of artefacts around the world of cultural, historical and artistic significance, the museum’s collection is one that Thailand may never rival.
Nunthinee Tanner, managing director of LGB Co. Ltd, which run’s Thailand’s The Met Store, regretfully says: “Thailand does not have enough money for this — the insurance would be too costly and the humidity and heat make it far too hard to keep any artefacts. I have a dream that Thailand would have a museum like this but it’s impossible due to weather constraints.”
While the museum part cannot be a reality, the famous museum store is something that has already been on our shores for the past 10 years. Packed with replicas of actual art pieces from within the museum and merchandise with iconic paintings splashed across, a visit to the store is in itself a good stand-in for the actual museum. It’s shuffled around throughout various retail destinations, but now makes a cozy home for itself inside Anantara Siam Hotel Bangkok and most recently, in Mandarin Oriental, which just opened in April.
It may seem a little out of place to visit the store without actually getting to go to the actual museum, but meanwhile, just take a moment to soak up the fact that besides Australia, Thailand is the only country in the world to have a Met Store open. Featuring a brightly-lit space with contemporary curved shelves, this modern design first featured at the Mandarin Oriental also reflects The Met’s new visual identity — it’s much nicer than the new logo though, thankfully!
As one of Nunthinee’s passion projects, where it’s likely that she’ll be one of the next purveyor of the local arts and culture scene, the owner adds: “I want to inspire people who have never been to that museum before, to see what’s inside and what’s available there. I want to share these good things with Thai people. For people who have already been there, there’s lots of things they can buy there to give as presents too.”
If you are looking to do some foolproof shopping for a businessman or perhaps for a respected elderly person you know, it’s safe to say that you can’t go wrong with The Met Store, with its selection of textiles, jewellery, home decorations, books and posters. Prices may be 30-40% higher than in New York, but then again, you don’t need to pay your airfare to go all the way there. Replica statues like The Thinker, embossed stationary or fountain pens with patterns from paintings by Louis Comfort Tiffany make for a tasteful present that stands out beyond expected high-end brands, while also making you seem like an art connoisseur in the meantime.
One of the jewellery trends now is also costume jewellery — a cheaper but no less beautiful alternative to actual precious stones. They’re safer to wear out into public too and the ones at the store now take inspiration from the Byzantine era, presents from the Russian tsar to his queen, as well ginko leaves and basil leaves in the latest summer collection. For children, a fun range of pop-up and educational books on various subjects within the museum, from the Ancient Egyptians to medieval knights, are available for perusing.
Beyond the implications of shopping, The Met Store’s presence in Thailand is one to keep your eyes on, especially with the flagship going under renovations at Kian Gwan House on Wireless Road. In two years’ time, the flagship will take up two floors and be under the home of Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, turning the building into something of a cultural hot spot for both tourists and locals. What this also means for local artists is a direct line to possible collaborations or features, even if their works are not in the actual museum, under exhibitions that The Met curates. Told you so, a museum store sure does offer more than shopping!
Mugs, bookmarks and posters with works by Tiffany.
Necklaces inspired by the Byzantine era and gifts from the tsar to his queen starting at 8,800 baht.
Coaster (1,200 baht).
The more layers in an Egyptian collar necklace, the higher in rank the wearer.
Japanese notecards (1,320 baht).
Japanese notecards (1,320 baht).
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.