Thailand

Shopping / Bronze

Photo: Thai bronze statue

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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

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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.