Baan Bu is a special place to me, tucked away near the western bank of the Chao Phraya. It may seem unremarkable at first, yet it’s truly unique.

Because this is the last workshop in Thailand still making traditional bronze bowls using a very specific technique: gleaming gold inside, smoky matte black outside, with delicate decorations etched by hand around the rim.

From small bowls that fit in the palm of your hand to large ones that feel surprisingly light despite their weight, each one is a real eye-catcher on any table.

I first saw a little bowl like this many years ago. A Thai family I knew wanted to give one to a guest as a gift. I’d never seen anything like it before, not even in luxury souvenir shops.

I immediately thought, I’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer gift to take home.

When I asked where this little house came from, they simply said, Baan Bu.

It was actually a small community, a village of craftspeople with several workshops where these bowls were made by hand.

When I visited the last workshop still open in Baan Bu, I was surprised by how much hard work goes into making such a beautiful bronze bowl.

Working conditions in this small, open, barn-like extension are challenging.

Sitting in front of a simple, open, brick oven radiating temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees takes physical strength, stamina and precision—not everyone can handle it.

First, copper and tin are melted over an open fire to create a bronze alloy. This is then made into a solid metal plate, which is hammered for hours into the desired shape.



Finally, the bronze plate is smoothed on a lathe using simple tools and a great deal of force, especially on the inside, which is carefully ground. The inside of the bronze bowl is then polished with abrasives until it shines brightly. To finish, soot—usually collected from the surrounding area—is hammered into the metal on the outside until it takes on its characteristic matte, ash-black finish, which is not polished. It retains this color and even darkens over time. I was deeply impressed by how these wonderful craftspeople create something so beautiful with relatively simple tools and such great skill.



Around 200 people in the neighborhood used to forge bronze in workshops like these. A fire destroyed the largest workshop years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic caused sales to collapse.

Many of the remaining artisans gave up.

Today, only around ten people still practice this traditional craft. If you want to see them at work, it’s best to call ahead. You can also just try dropping by—I’ve done that myself.

Then head into the courtyard, walk past the shelters with the display boards, and go to the shop at the back. You’ll need to ring the bell. The friendly woman who opens the door is usually the workshop owner. She’ll show you the most beautiful bowls and tell you about the business and the traditional craft.

I recommend buying one of these little works of art.

I can’t think of a better gift from Thailand, because it tells a story: the story of a craft whose bowls were once used in royal circles and for religious ceremonies.

A skill that is sadly in danger of being lost.