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Hoping for some help with these. My dad got them in Thailand in the 1960's but that's all I know about them. They were mounted to a frame using a red adhesive - any dark red that appears is the adhesive (especially on the back of coin). The coin/medallion has a recent nick on the top right back that shows silver(?). The pieces range from a little over 1 inch to 4 inches along their longest side. The two bottom right are the only ones that have a double sided image.
Thanks for any help!

These are sold widely as "Thai amulets". You can find many similar for sale on eBay under this heading, if you wish to get an idea of style and price. As far as I know these have been produced more or less continuously, and reproductions are still being made.

Thanks so much for the response. I never thought to use the word amulet for a search - makes sense! I'm interested in knowing more about the figures. Some are Buddha but the others I don't know. The "thai amulet" search looks promising.

If anyone knows anything about where the coin-looking piece came from, I would appreciate assistance. It looks like a commemorative piece, relatively new (prior to 1965). It looks to have a date of 1575 and the only historical event I found was Katsuyori's siege to Nagashino castle in Japan. I hope someone out there knows something about this piece. :) Thanks!

Dear Lydia

I first thought I would pass this topic, but after reading your reply, you seemed to be interested in them.

The coin is a medal of honour comes with pin and ribbon, like purple heart of American war veterians, for war veterians to stick it on their uniform. We called " Riang Chaisamorapoom" presented to the war veterians given by the king, and were first given to war veterians of world war II (1945).

The motif on the coin is a Ayutthaya kingdom king, King Naraysuan the great who freed us from Myanmar after Ayutthaya was conquered by Kingdom of Burma for the 1st time in history of Thailand. (Ayutthaya Kingdom was under Kingdom of Burma for 2 short period of time.)

There is no any number on it, the back of the medal say "We fight for the honor of the nation.", and the front is King Narayseun riding on the elephant neck with long spear. the upper words says "King Narayseun the great." the lower one says " Free the nation."

About Kingdom of Ayuttaya Link:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayuthaya
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The one you have is a copy or a fake.

The other 8 amulets will be talked later if you were interested.

Have fun
Anita Mui

Thank you so much Anita! I am excited to read up on the Kingdom of Ayuttaya. My dad was only there a year - sadly without the rest of us - but he loved Thailand and the people. I grew up looking at the framed pieces and recently came upon it again. The pieces were coming off so now I will display them differently.

I would very much enjoy more information on the other pieces! Also, is there a way to safely remove the red substance that was used to mount to the frame? I have no idea what it is but it flakes off in places and has sort of a waxey look to it. Even if they are considered fakes I wouldn't want to ruin them.

Thank you very much,
Lydia

Dear Lydia

The flakes are possibly coating resins used for wooden furniture. The people who make it just applied on the piece to make it looks old. However, the real thing have no coating and/or enameling of any kind.

Have fun
Anita Mui

Dear Lydia

The 2nd one, is called Pra Sam (means 3 Buddhas) for the Buddha amulet collectors.

As per archeology, these terracotta tablets were excavated under and inside the stupas of Hariphunchai Kingdom at Lamphun (AD 661-1292)which is considered as early Northen Dvaravati Kingdom of Mon people.

The big vehicle Buddhism came to Thailand long before the small vehicle of Sri Lanka which came to Thailand in Sukhothai kingdom. (AD 1238-1438) The big vehicle Buddhism believed that after 5000 yrs of Buddhism, the Buddhism will be disappeared from the world, so making the Buddha tablets engraved with Buddha scripture is to extend and continue the big vehicle Buddhism after 5000 of yrs.
Many tablets found at the Central Dvaravati ancient ruins, had engraved ancient Mon Language saying “Dvaravati sa wa ra pun ya” “ the good merit of the king of Dvaravati.” This kind of tablet is the most important find in Thai archeology. The ancient Mon language engraved on the tablets lead us know the story of the kingdom especially the name of the kingdom.
The middle figure is possible Sakyamuni Buddha. The other 2 would be his close disciples, Mokalana (who sits on the left-hand side of Buddha) and Sariputta (who sits on the right-hand side of Buddha) the background is a three halo flame (aura).

The one you have is a replica.

Have fun
Anita Mui
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hariphunchai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvaravati
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhothai_Kingdom

Dear Anita,
I thank you very much for taking the time to respond and sharing your love of history. It is very kind of you to share with others like me who have an attachment to objects from their childhood but have no knowledge of them. I will print what you have shared and keep it with the little objects for the future. Maybe someday I will be fortunate to visit Thailand and view some of the history of that country.

Thank you,
Lydia

Dear Lydia

CORRECTION:-

"the background is a halo flame throne with Bodi tree behind."

We have other 7 amulets to go, pls wait.

Have fun
Anita Mui

Dear Lydia

The 3rd amulet is called "Pra Reung Rang Peun".

Pra Reung is the name of the early legendary king who established Sukhothai Kingdom like Yellow Emperor of Chinese mythology.

Rang Peun, "Rang" in Thai means "blind". Peun in Thai means "gun"...so this 2 words mean "bullet proof".

The Sukhothai Kings will be called "Pra Reung"
In the back of these bronze amulets have a trial of mold looks similar to bullet, so it will be call "Rang Peun"


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So, the one who hang this amulet on the neck will be bullet proof / one fires you with any firearm will miss the target or his gun is out of order..etc..Many Thai politicle members, polices, soldiers and gangsters own these kind of amulets.

As per archeology, in the front is a standing Buddha with right hand on his chest, this abhaya Muttra signified "forbidding the relatives to fight one anther" over Rohini River. In one instance Buddha successfully prevented a war. When his relatives (his father's family, Sakayawong of Ancient India and his mother's family of Ancient Nepal kingdom) were about to go to battle over the waters of the Rohini River, he placed himself between the two sides and asked, "What is more valuable, blood or water?" Both kings answered, "Blood is more valuable, sir." At that, Buddha asked, "Then is it not unbecoming to spill blood for water?" The armies put down their weapons, and peace was restored.


The people who first found these kind of amulet stupidly assumed that the right hand mutra look like Buhhda says "stop" and the back looks like bullet, so it's holy and possibly can stop gun shot to the people who wearing it.
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The one you have is possible a replica copied the authentic one of Sukhothai kingdom. However, there are many monks and temples who reproduced this kind of amulet with many style out of the original for years.

Have fun
Anita Mui

Thank you Anita! I will certainly wait for all information. The authentic ones are very lovely and with much more detail than the copies.

Lydia

Dear Lydia

The 4th amulet is copied from the bronze image of Pra Buddha Chinarat. The original one is the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand, residing at Wat prasrimahathas Voramahaviharn, Pitsanulok Province. Pra Buddha Chinarat was made of bronze by King Lithai of Sukhothai Kingdom.

Pra Buddha Chinarat is 3.50 meter high with 2.875 wide (from the left knee to the right knee).Pra Buddha Chinarat was not with black laquer finish and glued with pure gold leaves until the year of King Ae-katossarod of Ayutthaya Kingdom who was the brother of King Naraysuan the Great. The 2 nagas frame was made of carved teakwood with black laquer finish and glued with gold leaves in the year of King Ae-katossarod, too. He restored the temple and this Buddha image for the sake of King Naraysuan.

The one you have is made of mixed metal. We called "Chin" which is an alloy of tin and lead. Your Pra Buddha Chinarat comes with Buddha's close disciples, Mokalana (who sits on the left-hand side of Buddha) and Sariputta (who sits on the right-hand side of Buddha), next to Buddha knee are 2 nagas laid vertically from the top of Buddha's halo flame, with Bodi tree as the background.

Pra Buddha Chinnarat was famously copied and made for amulets in the 20th century Bangkok period. There's no amulets of Pra Buddha Chinnarat found before that.

The age and maker of your amulet is unknown.

Have fun
Anita Mui

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