A pair of Thai gilt-bronze temple birds with bells. Thailand, 19th century.

A pair of Thai gilt-bronze temple birds with bells. Thailand, 19th century.

24 x 10 xh 53,5 cm (each, base included).

The hong—the sacred bird of Thai Buddhist tradition, derived from the celestial swan hamsa in Hindu cosmology—is among the most recurring subjects in Southeast Asian sacred art. Associated with purity and transcendence, it was placed within temples as a decorative and votive element.
The two examples, cast in bronze and covered in lacquer gilding, feature the typical ceremonial rendering of the subject: an ovoid body covered in finely chased scales and spiral motifs, an elongated neck that curves upward, terminating in a serpentine head, and a fan-shaped tail with stylized feathers. The lateral wings, rendered in openwork, display an ornamental repertoire of scrolls and flames characteristic of Rattanakosin temple production. From each neck hangs, on a metal wire, a bronze bell with a pointed leaf-shaped clapper, designed to produce auspicious sounds. Each example rests on a truncated cone-shaped pedestal decorated in register, grafted onto a modern black lacquered wooden base.

Condition report: Lacquer gilding with widespread loss of paint and surface oxidation of the bronze, consistent with its religious use and age. Some losses in the drawn parts of the wings. Modern wooden base in good condition.

All EU shipments are free and professionally packaged.
This item is sold with a legally valid certificate of authenticity.
Further details on the condition report are available upon request.
Viezzi Arte guarantees quality and professionalism at competitive prices. Contact us at info@viezziarte.it or WhatsApp us at +39 3402841279.
Message to non-Italian buyers: This work has not yet obtained the certificate of free export from Italy, issued by the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage, which certifies that the work does not belong to the Italian cultural heritage and can therefore be freely exported. The legislation in force since 2026 provides for reduced processing times for works with a declared value of less than €50.000, set at the discretion of the expert committee: on average, 2-3 weeks from the date of submission of the request. All costs related to this procedure are included in the price.

Disclaimer Rendering: The setting images are generated with AI for illustrative purposes and may not respect the actual proportions of the work.