Shopping / Art & Antiques
While Thailand is rich in antique art, the collector faces some serious limitations. Pieces which are considered part of the national treasure can be purchased by non-Thais but cannot be taken out of Thailand, neither by foreigners nor by Thais. In the case of Buddha images, such a limitation exists even for those new.
To export art, a permit is needed from the Thai Fine Arts Department. Certificates generally take at least one week to obtain and must be paid for (for details on obtaining such permits, please see the part on customs in the chapter Visa Formalities)
Whether a certificate is required depends on the judgement of the customs officer. This author has once had a shipment to England held up because it included a number of wood carvings purchased cheaply in Northern Thailand. The customs officer requested a certificate from the Fine Arts Department for these wood carvings so they were separated from the rest of the shipment which passed the export inspection. When this author inquired for the price for the certificate it turned out to be more expensive than the wood carvings themselves.
The best place to get an idea on what art objects and antiques are available in Bangkok is the River City Shopping Centernext to the Royal Orchid Sheraton, off New Road. It’s probably not the best place to buy art and antiques as prices are generally quite high. There also are a number of antique shops along New Road and in the lower Silom Road area, as well as on the second floor of the shopping arcade in the Indra Hotel . Less exclusive pieces can be found at Chatuchak Weekend Market. However, fakes and copies abound, not only at Chatuchak Market.
There is no clear definition how old a piece has to be to qualify as antique. Pieces some 30 years old would generally not be considered antiques by Westerners. If a trader gives as specification just Rattanakosin Period - well, that dates between 1782 and the present time.
At places such as Ban Chiang in Northeastern Thailand were prehistoric excavations have been made, quite a few people live of selling to tourists pieces of pottery and even bones alleged to be some 5000 to 7000 years old. Who believes such claims has only himself to blame.
There are numerous well done reproductions around. It’s nothing wrong with them as long as one pays reproduction prices. More honest, however, it is to settle for nice pieces of handicraft which reflect an old tradition but are not particularly old themselves.
Those who think they could get real bargains in real antiques are usually mistaken. Much as in the case of gemstones, the antique trade is something for true professionals. Those not firm in the field of Oriental art may buy pieces primarily for their beauty but better not as investment or with the intention of making a fast bug by selling in Europe or the US what they bought here.
Aside from the Fine Arts Department, the Association for the Propagation and Preservation of Objets d’Arts also prepares certifications on art objects and antiques. While the Fine Arts Department basically certifies that a piece of art can be taken out of the country, the above mentioned association certifies the authenticity of an object. According certificates can be requested when pieces of art or antiques are purchased.
An art and antiques auction is held at the River City Shopping Center every first Saturday of a month at 13:30. Consigned objects can be viewed at units 459 and 460. Some antique shops in Bangkok are:
Anna Antiques
1007 Silom Road, Tel 234-6816
Art Antique Gallery
412/4 Siam Square, Soi 6
opposite Novotel
Tel 251-8766
aside from Thai also Khmer, Burmese and Chinese antiques
Bae Teck Huat
286-288 Soi Nakhon Kasem, New Road
Tel 222-1431
Capital Antique Gallery
Ploenchit Road, Tel 252-7218
Unit 320, River City, Tel 237-0077
Chai Ma
799-801 Silom Road
Tel 236-4390
Elephant House
67/12 Soi Phraphinit, Sathorn Tai Rd
Tel 286-2780, 286-2281
Regent Hotel, Rajadamri Road
Tel 250-2730
Units 409-410 River City
Tel 237-0077
antiques and gift items
Erawan Antiques
149/8 Surawong Road
Tel 235-8981 to 2
Peng Seng Antiques
942/1-4 Rama IV Road
Tel 236-8010 to 1
Santi’s Art and Antiques
178 Sukhumvit Road
Tel 253-3391, 253-5417
174/4-6 Silom Rd
Tel 235-8071
Thai House Antiques
720/6 Sukhumvit Road (near Soi 28)
Tel 258-6287
large collection on several floors
U Thong Antiques
1323 Silom Road corner New Road
Tel 234-0328
Yong Antiques
1320 New Road (Charoen Krung)
Tel 235-6199
Chinese porcelain
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