An Introduction to Phra Somdet Machine translated

Phra Somdet is an amulet widely known among collectors. This article gathers basic information about the moulds, the material and the related temples, for use alongside the study of the images in the collection.

Moulds and Shapes

Phra Somdet comes in many moulds, such as Phim Yai (the large mould), Phim Song Chedi (the chedi-shaped mould) and Phim Ket Bua Tum (the lotus-bud topknot mould). Each mould differs in the details of the arch and the base. Viewing images from several angles helps these details appear more clearly.

Material

Most of the amulets are made of a powder material containing several kinds of ingredients. The colour and surface of each amulet therefore vary according to age and how it has been kept.

Studying from Images

Standard photographs of the front, back and sides, together with magnified images, make it easy for those studying to compare details.