Southeast Asia, Cambodia, ca. 10th to 14th century CE; Thailand, Ban Chiang culture, 300 BCE to 200 CE. A set of three cast bronze ladles with large bowls and handles. Longest ladle is from the Ban Chiang culture, has high copper content, and has crawling lizard near bowl.  Here's a nerdy factoid for you: Archaeologists have found that the ancient metal smiths of northern Thailand preferred bronze to copper, as bronze could be made much harder than copper. This said, archaeologists have found that the bronze of Ban Chiang was not in fact much harder than copper. So why bother to go through the complex process of smelting and adding copper?  Apparently, the Ban Chiang artisans prized color rather than metal's ability to be hardened. Note that even in its aged state, we can appreciate the blue-green patina making its presence known on the surfaces of these ladles!  Size: from 5-3/8" to 9-1/2"L.

Provenance: Ex-private D. Smith collection, California, acquired before 1985.

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#100172

Surface wear and corrosion as shown.