Thai bronzeware – the legacy of a two-century old handicraft

[?] Subscribe To
This Site

Thai bronzeware
the legacy of a two-century old handicraft

Thai bronzeware is a little known Thai handicraft in making stone polished bronze bowls or "khan long hin," an art that has been handed down for six generations since the Ayutthaya era.

This old traditional bronzeware craft is a specialty of the Baan Bu community in Bangkok Noi across on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya, a craft that has survived for more than 200 years!

Bowls and trays are made from smelting copper and tin to produce the bronze alloy sheet. These sheets are then heated in a charcoal fire and repeatedly hammered by two persons in turn to the required shape. It's a hot, laborious and tedious process.

The next stage consists of grinding and smoothening the surface of the bowl to refine the shape further. The bowls and trays are traditionally polished with stone to a fine glossy finish. Intricate designs are then etched on to the surface. Designs can be done on request.

All the processes in producing the Thai bronzeware have been preserved since the old days, except for the final stone polishing stage. Today, a mechanical lathe polisher has replaced the stone.

The Jiam Saeng Sajja Bronze Factory, which produces this Thai bronzeware, is located in Bangkok Noi near the Bangkok Noi Museum. The factory is part of the OTOP program to promote traditional Thai arts and craft products.

OTOP (One Tambon One Product) is a government project to promote indigenous Thai handicraft among the various sub-districts (tambon) in the country, both for domestic sales and exports. With state support in marketing and promotions, the craftsmen can then concentrate on producing their handicraft and preserving the art.

The showroom has several beautiful pieces of bronzeware on display. These include bowls for fruits, salad, sugar and cream with elaborately engraved designs. In the workshop behind, men and women toil laboriously on producing the Thai bronzeware, beating away continuously.

Given the arduous task, it's no surprise that the craftsmen and women are mostly middle-aged. It's a craft that few young people wish to take on.

Can this traditional art of Thai bronzeware be preserved for future generations?

Setback for the Baan Bu community

Early on 6 January 2006, a fire razed 35 homes in the Ban Bu community in Bangkok Noi. Thankfully, no one was injured. The cause of the fire is unknown. The store of the famous Jiam Saeng Sajja Bronze Factory was completely destroyed.

Luckily, the factory with its original tools for making the bronzeware is still intact. As one of the 12 old communities designated to promote tourism, we hope that efforts can be made to help restore the Ban Bu community.

For the location of the bronzeware factory, please see map to Bangkok Noi Museum. I'm afraid you won't be able to visit it for a while.

Good news - Ban Bu Thai bronzeware reopens

I've been trying to call the Jiam Saeng Sajja Bronze Factory in the Ban Bu community in Bangkok Noi in early March 2007, on the hope that they might have reopened for business.

I feared the worst when I didn't get a reply for several days. Well, on 8 March 2007, someone answered the phone and redirected me to another number.

The factory has reopened for business in the same location. The new telephone number is 02- 424 - 1689. It's closed on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, do give a call before you visit though.

Bookmark this old Bangkok community