King Bhumibol Adulyadej gifts traditional Thai instruments to the Library of Congress

During his first state visit, King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave ten traditional Thai instruments to the Library of Congress. Included in the gift were a pair of cymbals (ching), two small hand drums (one thon and one rammana), two flutes (khlui u), one zither (chakhe), and four fiddles (two so duang and two so u). The fiddles, adorned with ivory and delicate woodwork, came with replacement strings should they ever need to be restrung. An accompanying silver plaque read that these gifts were "presented as a token of sincere respect for a centre of knowledge and culture."