Older generations will already be familiar with the traditional hand-crafted bronze bowls known in Thai as Khan Long Hin, which have been hammered into shape by hand for more than 200 years. And, thanks to a group of dedicated craftsmen and women from the Ban Bu community in Bangkok Noi district, younger generations can still enjoy the fruits of this unique craft.

These days the bowls are mainly used during religious ceremonies or on other special occasions, but they were once widely used as storage vessels for drinking water, keeping it cool and fresh, or as containers to enhance the aroma of rice before being presented as an offering to Buddhist monks.

People have become accustomed to using more modern kinds of containers in their kitchens made from plastic or stainless steel, while a hand-crafted bronze bowl produced in Ban Bu is more likely to be displayed on a shelf as an ornament nowadays.

At one time, the sound of residents busily hammering away could be heard throughout the Ban Bu community since nearly every household earned a living from the craft. Production took place either at home or in small production plants located within the community.

Maintaining traditions
The community's ability to continue its work is largely due to the Jiam Sangsajja Bronze Factory, where the bronzeware is hand-crafted continuing a 200-year-old tradition, passed down from one generation to the next. The locals' ancestors began arriving in Bangkok after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.

Sixty-year-old Samrith Bamroongna has been producing bronzeware in the area for more than 40 years.

“As long as I'm able to carry out the task, I'll be making bronzeware. I love crafting each piece and am proud of my skills,” he says.

Samrith is one of 16 craftspeople who have grown up to inherit their parents' skills in producing bronzeware. Samrith and his wife, along with other craftsmen and women, produce their work at Jiam Sangsajja Bronze Factory, which nowadays is the only one operating within the Ban Bu community.

While other factories have fallen by the wayside, either due to a drop in demand or because of a lack of skilled personnel, Jiam Sangsajja Bronze Factory's manager, Metta Salanon, says she will continue to operate the factory so long as the artisans wish to continue to produce their wares.

Metta is the sixth generation of her family to run the factory, which was passed down to her from her mother, Jiam. The factory provides her team of craftsmen and women with all the necessary raw materials, equipment, high-temperature fire-brick stoves, and any other tools they may need.

Metta says that producing a single item involves many complicated processes such as form development; the smoothing of edges; and polishing. An individual will deal with a single aspect of the process to bring together the work of several artisans into a true masterpiece.

The factory produces bowls, as well as plates of various sizes. Metta says that while bronzeware is rarely seen on dining tables nowadays, it is still in strong demand since it has become highly-collectible.

“All our customers – locals and foreigners alike – love traditional hand-crafted artifacts and understand the value of genuine craftsmanship,” Metta says.

The factory received product category prizes from the One Tambon, One Product (Otop) consecutively during the period 2003-2006. And last year, the factory received the prestigious United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco)'s Seal of Excellence for handicrafts for its high level of craftsmanship using traditional methods.