Nakon Sri Thammarat circa 1860
A fine mid-19th century Thai (Siamese) silver gilt and niello water pot (Ka Nam)

Of cylindrical form raised upon three hemispherical feet, a curved panel section spout, opposable gilt loop handles, a pull off cylindrical lid surmounted by a lotus finial, a suspension chain to a spout cover formed as a lotus head. The body with finely nielloed decoration in cotton rosemallow flower pattern (Thai lai dok phuttan). The interior with a lift out strainer section.

Height -17.5 cm / 6.9 inches

Weight - 471 grams / 15.41 ozt

An example of one such “cylindrical water pot” (Ka Nam Rup Krabok) was gifted in 1856 from King Mongkut as part of the Harris Treaty Gifts, held in the Smithsonian as part of a large selection of gilded nielloware produced by Siamese goldsmiths. This is illustrated Bromberg, P., (2019), Thai SIlver and Nielloware, Bangkok: River Books, p.70. for further reading on this see McQuail, L. (1997), Treasures of Two Nations – Thai Royal Gifts to The United States of America, Washington DC, Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution. P.53-65.

A similar Ka Nam Rup Krabok was sold Bushby, Bridport, 16^th March 2023, lot 151 (£9000 hammer)

Another sold RCB, Bangkok, 2 May 2026, lot 126 (฿500,000 hammer, approximately £11,350)

A similar example of a Ka Nam Rup Krabok from the Wilkinson collection is in the V&A collection (IS.322&A-1950)

Another water pot of octagonal from the Wilkinson collection is in the V&A collection (IS.323&A-1950) and is illustrated Backman, M. (2024), Malay Silver and Gold, Courtly Splendour from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand. Bangkok: River Books Press, p. 173 where discussed "(...) probably a gift from the Siamese court in the early 19th century. Intended to hold hot water to top up a teapot, the Malay's would have used it to hold cold water, either for drinking or to wash the hands prior to and after eating."

The curious addition of the strainer section with this water pot suggests it was made as an addition either in England or in Thailand to allow the vessel to be used as a teapot.