Thai Lacquered Gong

Lacquered Gong

This gong, of cast bronze, is lacquered and gilded one the face and sides with demonic fighting figures amid scrolling flame-like foliage (kranok). The central raised boss is decorated with a flower.

The reverse of the gong has been decorated naively with what appears to be a talismanic diagram incorporating Thai numbers.

Gongs of this type are not common, particularly in good condition, and were given as diplomatic gifts to foreign rulers, representatives and monasteries. The throne room of Cambodia’s National Palace, for example, has a similar gong mounted on a frame that includes ivory tusk supports (the gong is illustrated in Jeldres & Dayde-Latham, 2002, p. 25.)

The example here is supported in a later wooden frame (the gong is available either with or without the frame). It is also accompanied by a gong striker.

The condition of this gong is unusually good. There are no dents and repairs and importantly, the lacquerwork is largely intact, which is not the case with most extant examples. Thai lacquered gongs with this degree of detail to the lacquerwork are quite rare.