Temple rubbings were hand rubbed by skilled artisans in Thailand beginning in the early 1960's. Quality rice paper was placed over the intricate designs carved on the stone temple walls. The surface was then rubbed with colored chalk inks producing an exact likeness of the wall carving. Over the years, the Thai Government became aware that this rubbing process was causing surface erosion which was permanently damaging the treasured temple wall carvings. In 1995 they banned the process and restricted exportation of all temple rubbings made by this direct rubbing technique. This act by the Thai Government made all earlier direct temple rubbings more valuable and prompted the creation of copies.