A major component
in bronze is tin for which Thailand is one of the world's
major producers. Tin is mined in Thailand for centuries on Phuket
Island and neighboring provinces. Nickel-bronze which makes
a greenish appearance has been used in Thailand since ancient
times to make Buddha images.
Tin and nickel
are among the more expensive non-precious metals. According to
Asiaweek of August 16, 1991, the price for a ton of tin
at that time stood at 5,670 US Dollars, and for a ton of nickel
at 8,240 US Dollars. In comparison, the price for a ton of
copper was given as 2,274 US Dollars, the price of a ton
of zinc as 1,053 US Dollars and the price of a ton of aluminum
as 1,160 US Dollars.
The tin content
in bronze is just about 10 percent, with the rest mainly copper.
Based on the above commodity prices, a ton of bronze has a metal
value of around 3,000 US Dollars. From this figure can
be derived what possibly could be the lowest prices available
for bronze items of lesser weight.
There is a
large number of bronze and brassware shops in Bangkok, especially
along New Road between Sathorn Nua Road and Surawong Road.
There are also a number of bronze and brassware shops on Silom
Road and Surawong Road.
The best selection
in brass and bronze, however, is found at Chatuchak Weekend
Market. Furthermore, prices there are considerably lower than
on New Road or Silom Road.
Among the
designs available are two kinds, those Western inspired and those
in the tradition of Thai art. It must be noted again at this place
that Buddha images are not allowed to be exported from
Thailand, except with special permit of the Thai Fine Arts
Department. Obviously, the Thai government wants to avoid
that Thai objects of worship end up as curios or even worth.
The visitor
will notice that many shops offer the same objects with almost
no variations - may it be that they receive them from the
same source or that certain styles are just copied by a number
of factories. Pieces like lamp stands or old street
lights are sometimes offered as both brass and bronze.
Photo:
Manufacture of bronze items
The shopper
should be aware that the weight of a piece doesn't necessarily
indicate how much brass or bronze has been used to manufacture
it. Hollow statues and pieces like street lights are often
filled with concrete to make them heavier and thereby more
impressive. Even small pieces are regularly filled with cement.
(Not that bronze statues in the West would be cast solid. But
to leave them hollow when they were cast hollow sort of speaks
of more respect for the arts than filling a piece up with concrete.)
Aside from
brass and bronzeware, pewterware is also available in Thailand.
Pewter, consisting of fairly pure tin, is suitable mainly
for small decorative items or intricately decorated cups.
