Old Map of Siam
Old Map of Siam by Père Placide, 1686
A fine art reproduction of a decorative antique map of Siam, associated with present-day Thailand, and its neighbouring kingdoms. Cambodia, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java share the sheet with sailing ships, a royal boat and an elaborate title surrounded by elephants.
Supplied unframed.
A stunning certified FINE ART PRINT on heavy textured art paper — not a poster
- Direct from the publisher — no middlemen
- Printed in-house in Cornwall
- Free UK delivery — international shipping available
- Produced to meet — and often exceed — museum-quality standards
Size
Fine Art Map Reproductions – Museum-Quality Printing
Unlike most online offerings, our maps are produced entirely in-house, not outsourced to print-on-demand or drop-shipping services. This allows complete control over quality while offering better value. Each map begins with a high-resolution original, carefully enhanced and printed to order using archival papers and pigment inks for exceptional clarity, depth, and longevity. Every piece is personally overseen — no map leaves our workshop unless it is of a quality we would be proud to display ourselves.
Authentic Old Map Paper & Accurate Colour Reproduction
Paper choice is essential to the authenticity of our maps. We use specially sourced 190gsm paper made in the UK from pure materials and traditionally pressed with natural woollen felts. This process creates a subtle, randomly textured surface that closely resembles an original antique document. Likewise the use of premium quality ink fully saturates the paper, producing remarkable clarity, depth, and historical character. Colour fastness and sharpness will remain good for in excess of 100 years!
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This old map of Siam places the kingdom within a broad view of Southeast Asia, stretching from the Bay of Bengal to Java. Coloured outlines follow the coastlines and distinguish neighbouring kingdoms, while tiny buildings, wooded areas and rows of hills fill the interior. A large ornamental title cartouche, supported by two figures and a group of elephants, makes this an especially decorative seventeenth-century map.
Map Details
- Original title: Carte du Royaume de Siam et des Pays Circonvoisins
- Cartographer: Père Placide de Sainte-Hélène
- Engraver: C. Roussel, as signed on the map
- Publisher: Mademoiselle Du Val, Paris
- Map date: 1686, as printed in the imprint
- Area shown: Siam and neighbouring parts of Southeast Asia, including the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java
- Language and orientation: French; north at the top
Siam and its neighbouring kingdoms
Siam is the historic name associated with present-day Thailand, but this map reaches well beyond modern Thai borders. Pegu and Aracan appear to the west, with Cambodia, Champa, Cochinchina and Tonkin to the east. The southern edge of China and the island of Hainan occupy the upper right.
The royal city is labelled “Siam ou Judia”, referring to Ayutthaya. Farther south, the narrow Malay Peninsula descends towards Malacca and Johor, opposite the long island of Sumatra. These old names and the shape of the coastlines show how a French mapmaker organised the region in the late seventeenth century; they should not be read as modern political boundaries.
A map connected with a royal embassy
The dedication names the Chevalier de Chaumont, ambassador of the French king to Siam. A dotted line across the southern seas is labelled as his route, connecting the map with the French embassy of 1685–86. Near Java, the sea is filled with engraved sailing ships, including a vessel identified as a royal warship.
Beneath the elephants is a separate illustration labelled “Balon du Roy de Siam”: an ornate royal boat with a high decorative prow and stern. Together with the dedication and the marked voyage, it gives the map a diplomatic character as well as a geographical one.
Elephants, ships and an elaborate title
The title occupies much of the lower right, enclosed by curling ornament and foliage beneath a crowned shield. Two standing figures flank the lettering, with three elephants gathered below. A compass rose and another sailing ship balance this decoration in the open water at the upper left.
The equator is drawn across the lower portion of the sheet, cutting through Sumatra, while Java extends along the bottom. The original paper tone, coloured coastal outlines and engraved decoration are retained in this fine art reproduction. Supplied unframed.