BASIC INFORMATION

• Object Name: Hollow Ornate Gilt-Bronze Bangle (Kamrai Boua / กำไลทองโบราณ)
• Country of Origin: Thailand
• Production Context: Royal Workshops / Master Court Metalsmiths
• Historical Period: Late Ayutthaya to Early Rattanakosin Period
• Date: 17th – 18th Century CE (circa 1650–1780)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

• Form: A thick, high-relief torus-shaped open bangle featuring a side split. The outer convex face is intricately decorated with a continuous band of crisp, deeply cast Lai Kranok foliage motifs, framed by fine beaded borders on both upper and lower registers. The interior wall is smooth and concave to rest flush against the arm.
• Material: Lost-wax cast copper alloy (bronze) showing historical gold amalgamation remnants.
• Surface: Rich, dark espresso-brown to olive-green cuprite and malachite patina. Intricate recesses retain faint, distinct flecks of original gold leaf gilding.

DIMENSIONS

• Inner Diameter: 60 mm (Standard size for elite female or youth wrist)
• Outer Diameter: 97 mm
• Wall/Torus Thickness: 18.5 mm

CONDITION REPORT

• Overall Condition: Very Fine / Great Craftsmanship Preservation
• Structural Detail: Features an intentional opening split along the lateral wall.
• Archaeological Damage: Exhibits a core-pin perforation hole on the interior/reverse wall.

PROVENANCE & CONTEXT

• History: Part of a long-standing antique dealer’s inventory. Officially cataloged and acquired into the collection in 2025.
• Historical Function: Premium luxury personal adornment. Jewelry of this structural weight and ornamental complexity was strictly regulated by sumptuary customs during the Ayutthaya period, worn exclusively by the royal family, high court aristocrats, or high-tier theatrical performers during temple dedication festivals.