Anyone brought home a buddha recently?
Dec 3rd, 2007, 05:33 PM
#1
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Anyone brought home a buddha recently?
In my reading I found that you have to get a special permit to bring home ANY kind of Buddha statue from Thailand. According to what I've read, you have to fill out some forms and have two photos of what you wish to purchase. My daughter wants me to bring her back a statue...does this include the less expensive statues you find at the markets, or are they referring to more antique type statues?
If you need to get the paperwork filled out- how long does it take?
If you need to get the paperwork filled out- how long does it take?
Dec 3rd, 2007, 06:16 PM
#3
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the permit is to take significant historical buddhas from thailand, not to bring them into the usa...
any reputible dealer will inform you when you need a permit and will assist with it....
they are not your $5-100 buddhas....
any reputible dealer will inform you when you need a permit and will assist with it....
they are not your $5-100 buddhas....
Dec 3rd, 2007, 06:19 PM
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That's great. What I read was no matter what kind of Buddha- be it a $5 from a stall at the market or a $500 antique, you had to have permission from the Fine Arts Department. It seemed extreme to me for the less expensive things...but if that's what I needed to do I would.
Dec 3rd, 2007, 06:30 PM
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A 17th Century Thai Buddha is $5,000-$10,000 basad on detail and if it is made if silver and nickel or teak. I brought one back with certification but the certification alobe cost $455USD. I also purchased several 17th and 18th authenticated Indonesian Buddha's without a problem. Those can be acquired for $2000-$4000.No problem at customs with proper paperwork except 10% duty.
Dec 3rd, 2007, 06:40 PM
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Stan, no duty for entering the US if it is an antique.
Heymo, as others have said, you only need paperwork for an antique Thai Buddha, although you should get paperwork for any antique Buddha. I have purchased a couple of antique Burmese Buddhas over the years and you need documentation for those indicating their origin and age.
Heymo, as others have said, you only need paperwork for an antique Thai Buddha, although you should get paperwork for any antique Buddha. I have purchased a couple of antique Burmese Buddhas over the years and you need documentation for those indicating their origin and age.
Dec 4th, 2007, 03:14 PM
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Heymo,
These permits for antiques are an attempt to try to stop the looting of Khmer temples in Cambodia... the thieves loot the temples, smuggle them across the border into Thailand & then sell them to western tourists in BKK...
If you are returning to the states, you cannot bring in anything with ivory or feathers or animal skins... even if it's antique ivory it is banned in the US.
Last year I bought a wonderful PNG mask in the Nandi airport in Fiji-- fortunately I bought the wooden one w/ cowerie shells, and not the one with feathers... the Custom's gal asked if it had feathers (she never asked me to unwrap the special carrier case)... and told me regardless of the type, it would be confiscated.
Make sure your Buddha does not have ivory... and you will be fine.
These permits for antiques are an attempt to try to stop the looting of Khmer temples in Cambodia... the thieves loot the temples, smuggle them across the border into Thailand & then sell them to western tourists in BKK...
If you are returning to the states, you cannot bring in anything with ivory or feathers or animal skins... even if it's antique ivory it is banned in the US.
Last year I bought a wonderful PNG mask in the Nandi airport in Fiji-- fortunately I bought the wooden one w/ cowerie shells, and not the one with feathers... the Custom's gal asked if it had feathers (she never asked me to unwrap the special carrier case)... and told me regardless of the type, it would be confiscated.
Make sure your Buddha does not have ivory... and you will be fine.
Dec 4th, 2007, 03:57 PM
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Actually, the Thai laws regarding the export of Buddha figures applies only to Thai figures of historic or national importance. The Thai laws do not apply to Burmese, Cambodian or Lao Buddha figures, but you would still need to present papers that indicate the origin and approximate age of an antique Buddha figure.
