Design: Pan-Lom

    Pan-Lom is an ornamental decoration of the gable end which is a pointed wooden piece placed to fit in with “klon” a piece of wood on top to serve as the structure of the roofing. From the pointed upper end going down to the ends that are placed on both eaves of the house that have a variety of forms, such as the “Ngao” figure that has a similar structure design from a kranok pattern which is a thai motif pattern that appears in many thai artworks. Another form of this ornament is the fishtail figure that has a truncated, flat squared end that looks just like the tail of a fish. 

    Moreover, Pan-lom is a decoration that evolved from the Khmer period which can be seen from the Pateas Rongdorl in Cambodia. The Pateas Rongdorl’s pan-lom has an elegantly curved decoration similar to a head at the ends of the gable which is the distinctive feature of the house and it has a diamond shape on the top with carvings of flowers and clouds that represent nature itself that is attached in the middle of the pointy top of the Pan-lom. This has influenced the Thai ornamental decoration which is the “Ngao” figure pan-lom, which has a stylized naga head design and became one of the distinctive characteristics of the Thai houses that can be commonly seen in Central Thailand. The central thai Ngao figure has a more simple elegant curve from the kranok pattern with floral and bird carvings at the ends and a classic thai carving on the pointed top. 

    Furthermore, the fishtail figure pan-lom can be widely seen from the traditional Lao house style in Luang Prabang. It has simple squared ends that meet on top creating a pointed head. There is a wooden carvings decoration that is attached on the lower part of the pan-lom with design patterns that are influenced by nature such as floral and cloud patterns.