Featured Enamel on Sterling Vessel Pin; Siam?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by wlwhittier, May 27, 2026 at 11:06 PM.

  1. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    A recent bauble, one of 4 wee delights in a jeweler's Miscellaneous case. It's ~1 7/8" long, ~1" high; the 'dangle' is ~7/16" long. Weight is 4.5 grams.
    The central (royal?) occupant is gender uncertain; there are 9 persons with oars, a chanter or tiller-man, plus 1 with a parasol?, an' 1 with a fan?. The sterling mark is plainly legible; the next 4 characters have been obscured, but I believe they spell Siam. The hole at the end of that doesn't go through to the enamel side. The rollover safety catch for the pin looks relatively modern to me.
    What is this about? Like Cleopatra on her barge, this is a bit iconic, but I have no idea what the scene represents..if anything. Thanks for lookin'!
    @Any Jewelry

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  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    If you do an internet search for "Sterling Siam Dragon Boat Pin", a number of these will come up.

    Debora
     
    kyratango, Lucille.b, stracci and 4 others like this.
  3. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Dragon Boat...of course! Thank you, Debora...
     
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is one of the Royal Barges of Thailand. I think I have one too somewhere, but yours has nicer enameling. These were popular souvenirs in the 1960s-70s, probably later as well.
    A flag and parasols as a sign of of the status of the royals.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2026 at 8:10 AM
  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    A video of the royal barges on the Chao Praya river in Bangkok:

     
  6. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    I can see why they would be a popular souvenir. Charming.

    Debora
     
  7. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    I've had that, it sold very quickly :)
     
    wlwhittier and komokwa like this.
  8. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Thank you, AJ! That was mesmerizing...the public spectacle, the mellifluous full-throated chant an' response, the enormous scope of the river passage, without a single modern vessel, nor any hint of security presence (though I'm pretty sure it was there)...a most thrilling journey for this old provincial. I am sincerely grateful for your sharing it!
     
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