Thailand was known for centuries as Siam. In 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to Thailand. The word "Thai" means "free", and therefore "Thailand" means, "Land of the Free." Throughout its 800-year history, Thailand can boast the distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized.

The long-accepted theory about the origin of the Thai race is that they migrated in a series of waves down from southern China around the 1st century AD. As they migrated, Thais borrowed and added their own creativity to arts and crafts - developed and produced substantial parts of them. The evidence can be seen in their woodcarvings and lacquer ware still produced today with the same techniques.