Antique Thai Kinnara – Fire-Gilded Red Bronze & Inlaid Eyes
An exceptional 19th-century specimen of a celestial Kinnara. This object transcends standard decorative art due to the rare combination of fire-gilded red bronze and hand-cut 'living' eyes.
Product details
| Period: |
Late 19th century (Rattanakosin) |
| Material: |
Fire-gilded 'Red Bronze' (high copper content) with inlaid glass eyes |
| Dimensions: |
H 22 cm x W 11 cm x D 10 cm |
| Weight: |
1.1 kg (Solid, high-quality casting) |
Microscopic Expertise (Dino-Lite)
The forensic analysis under the Dino-Lite confirms the museum status of this object:
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Metallurgy: The base alloy exhibits the characteristic reddish copper oxide (cuperite) beneath the gold plating. This indicates a high-quality alloy typical of sacred casting from the late 19th century.
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The Eyes: The hand-cut inlays display an authentic stress crack in the pupil. This type of craquelé in glass/porcelain is caused exclusively by decades of thermal expansion and contraction of the metal.
Fire gilding: The gold layer has been drawn into the bronze using mercury amalgam (fire gilding). The microscope shows 'soft edge' wear on the exposure points, where the gold has slowly fused with the underlying bronze.
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Finish: The underside displays authentic, manual file marks and mineral verdigris deposits that make the historical age irrefutable.
Investment Grade Asiana
This is a rare "living eyes" example. The combination of the dynamic dance pose of the Kinnara, the significant weight of 1.1 kg, and the original fire gilding makes this object a high-quality investment for collectors of authentic Rattanakosin art.
