ALL AGLOW FOR LANTERNS

Most lamp collectors know where to go if their inestimable treasure is broken or urgently needs a facelift.

They simply knock at the door of Utai Sawanaphakdi's lamp repair shop.

Upon returning home, their lamp gleams just like new and that always brings a smile to both the repairer and his clients.

"Most of my customers bring their lamps to my shop with a worried look, afraid that their lamp might be irreparable. But when they come back to collect it, their faces glow with happiness. Mine too," said Utai, 57.

Located at Sanam Luang II Weekend Market, Utai's karn lamp repair shop has been frequently visited by lamp collectors over the years. Some customers even drive several hours from upcountry just to have their old lamp fixed and very often take one more home.

The shop also serves as a lamp gallery where a vast variety of antique lanterns are on display, attracting a myriad of passers-by, including younger people new to the joys of lamps and more mature, dedicated collectors.

"Previously, my clients were mostly the older generation but now working people or those in their 30s also come.

"To them, an old lamp is more challenging than other modern sources of light because it requires skilful hands to light it, unlike a fluorescent bulb that you just turn the switch on and the light will come on immediately," said Utai.

GLOWING PASSION

To many, the name Utai may not ring a bell. But to lamp lovers, he is regarded as a master whose passion for antiques still burns bright, even after all these years. With his caring and skilful hands, he can also breathe a new lease of life into "dying lamps", much treasured by their owners.

Utai's life has revolved around the kerosene lamp for three decades.

It all started accidentally as he saw his family's old broken down lamp gathering dust in the corner of the house.

Such a depressing sight spurred him to do something to keep it alive as it once was during its glorious days.

In an effort to revive the family's last lamp, he visited several shops around Bangkok to find spare parts. The more Utai walked, the more he saw attractive lamps sold along the city streets.

"What I had was a broken lamp. But what I had seen were complete and classic ones. I really wanted to know how lamps worked, so I bought more and more old lanterns to get to know all models produced at different periods. I've gleaned a wealth of knowledge," he said. But to understand the inner workings of lamps he had to break them piece by piece.

 

"I got to dissemble some of them to see how they were assembled and how each part worked. Finally, I could fix my first lamp, but at the end of this self-learning course I got a pile of lamps as my bonus," he smiled.

A ROAD TO A LUMINOUS LIFE

A chance to see about 1,500 lamps decorated in and around one food shop in Saraburi province inspired him to follow his passion and step into the luminous world.

"It's an amazing sight. The entire shop was illuminated with soft classic light. At the time, I wished I could see my house being decorated with countless lamps," he recollected.

 

Though his wish wasn't fully answered, he was happy with what he got.

"To me, owning about 500 lamps is enough. At least I can follow my heart and be happy with what I like," he said.

Utai kept all of his lamps at home, leaving no room for other members of the family to enjoy free space.

Finally, his wife and sons "threatened" that they would turn the lamps to scrap and sell them to garbage collectors after he dies.

Fearing that his treasure trove may be "annihilated" in a blink of an eye, he came up with an idea to share his collection with those like-minded.

I CHOOSE YOU, MY NEW HEIRS

 

Utai spent days and nights sifting through the lamps for ones he didn't like much and then cut them from his collection. The rest are the best and he won't trade them for anything. So far, about 300 beautiful and rare lanterns are still in his possession while 200 have been sold to lamp enthusiasts.

"My wife and sons indirectly forced me to sell parts of my collection. They even opened the lamp shop for me so I could sell my stuff," he said. "On the first day, I carried some lamps to the shop and stayed there for a few hours and then quickly returned home, being afraid that someone would stop by and buy them. It was like that for several days," he recalled, laughing.

A week later, however, Utai was completely changed, thanks to a group of lamp lovers who showed their authentic passion for the antiques.

 

"I met a large number of lamp devotees. Most of them want to find more lamps to add to their existing collection. After a long talk with them, I knew right away that I could pin my hopes on them. I do believe that they can take good care of my lanterns as I have always done, or even better than me," he said. Asked what he is going to do with the other 300 lamps still kept at home, Utai quickly answered with a big laugh.

"I have no plan to sell them. I can't stand living without them, really I can't," stressed the lamp lover.

A SHORT-CUT TO HAPPINESS

Those who think that the legend of Thai traditional lamps was totally eclipsed with the advent of electricity are completely wrong, since such a classic source of light is making a huge comeback.

 

Among a wide variety of collectible antiques, ta kieng chao payu, or a pressure lamp, is always top of the list due to its rarity and classic looks.

Many lamp lovers are on a mission to preserve them so the next generation can get a glimpse of one of the past chapters of old Siam.

Utai not merely collects, but he fixes lamps as well. And he is good at it, too. A self-taught lamp repairer, he learned not from any textbooks but through sheer numbers of lamps.

Every time he visited the old lamp shops in Chinatown, Klong Thom and Chatuchak Weekend Market, he would come back home with between five and 10 lamps at a time.

"In those days, antique lamps sold for between 200 and 300 baht, and were considered somewhat expensive. But when I saw lamps that were not in my collection, I couldn't restrain my desire to have them. That's why the number of lamps at my house was always increasing," he disclosed.

 

Many lamps were taken apart piece by piece to allow the amateur repairer to learn more about their assorted parts. Very often, Utai had to intentionally break them into pieces to see whether he could fix them.

"Broken lamps that found their way to my hand came in various condition and my job was to fix all kinds of problems. Breaking some of my lamps and bringing them back to their normal state is so helpful. It's a kind of instruction," he said.

At present, Utai is more than happy with his lamp repairing job. It is a common sight to see him glued to his chair for hours fixing piles of old lamps for his clients.

"My days always end with a happy smile from my customers who share the same passion as me," he said.

LOOKING AFTER LAMPS

As the popularity of collecting the traditional gaslight lamps is increasing, some greenhorn collectors find it difficult to keep their lamps glistening and functional throughout the passage of time. Here are some tips on how to keep an old lamp as glossy as a new one.

 

- After being repaired or used, a lamp must be kept in an appropriate place. Don't hang it in the open air since rainwater and humidity will rust it. It is advisable to put it in a cardboard box and keep it in a cabinet.

- A lamp should be lit occasionally to prevent some parts from being clogged up. It can be lit every three months.

- Frequently check its air pump to make sure that it is still functional.

- A lamp should be cleaned and rubbed twice a month with any kind of polisher to maintain its lustre. A glossy surface will not gather dust, hence making it easier to clean the lantern.

- A mantle is the most fragile part so lamp users should hold a lamp gently.

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Relate Search: Utai Sawanaphakdi, lamp collectors