Bronze statues made from the lost wax casting technique and their meaning in contemporary Thailand : a case study of the bronze foundry of the Fine Arts Department in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom

Abstract

Bronze statues have been a vital part of Thai culture over the past number of centuries. The process of making these statues has evolved over time and moreover, these statues have always been very prominent within the Thai community. This thesis attempts to understand and study the beliefs behind making bronze statues of Thai elites. More importantly, this thesis attempts to document the process and differentiate traditional techniques of bronze casting with the contemporary method of bronze casting. As the bronze statues of past kings and monarchs are also worshiped by the majority of local people in Thailand, the spiritual dimension of making such statues are also considered. This thesis studies the popularization of contemporary lost wax process and reasons behind its popularity. Likewise, the popularization of making bronze statues of Thai elites and heroic figures nationally and individually; and whether it is the reason of the deep rooted eastern culture or specially the deep rooted Thai belief in ancestral worship, faith on Monarchy, Buddhism, Hinduism, and animism, that imparts the public display of such figures which ultimately ends up as a cult object and places of pilgrimage, veneration and to show gratitude for the normal Thai people. The thesis attempts to make inventory and document the process of contemporary and traditional bronze casting technique. Traditional bronze casting technique has its own aesthetic and technical value. Although bronze statues manufactured from the contemporary bronze casting technique lacks its value compared to the bronze made from traditional technique, the reason of popularization of the contemporary lost wax process is the easy available modern material and equipment as well as the modern way of making art objects.