Encyclopedia

Reference articles on Thai amulets and Thai occult objects — what they are, who made them, from what, and how collectors identify them. Every statement is traced to an independent source, listed at the end of each article.

Showing 5 articles tagged #phra somdej · show all

Guides

Collecting, wearing, dating and valuing Thai amulets.

Most Expensive Thai Amulet: Record Prices and What Drives Value

The most expensive Thai amulet on press record is a Phra Somdej Wat Rakang Pim Yai at THB 35 million in 2010, and this guide explains what drives prices.

Fact-checked · 18 sources · 13 min read

How to Tell a Fake Thai Amulet: Moulds, Materials, Certificates

How to tell a fake Thai amulet: how experts compare moulds, read material and age, weigh certificates and contests, and why no single test is foolproof.

Fact-checked · 24 sources · 14 min read

Amulet types

Named amulets and series: where they come from and how they are identified.

Phra Somdej Wat Rakang: History, Moulds, Material and Prices

This guide explains how Phra Somdej Wat Rakang, the powder tablet of Somdej Toh, was made, which moulds exist, and how prices and fakes are judged.

Fact-checked · 21 sources · 13 min read

Benjapakee: The Five Great Thai Amulets, History and Prices

Benjapakee is the five-piece set of Thailand's most collected amulets, grouped around 1952; this guide covers its origin, members and recorded prices.

Fact-checked · 23 sources · 13 min read

History & places

Temples, markets, legends and the history of the amulet tradition.

Thai Amulet History: From Votive Tablets to the Modern Market

Thai amulet history runs from clay votive tablets sealed in ancient stupas to the worn amulets and collector market that grew up in the 20th century.

Fact-checked · 28 sources · 13 min read