Thai-made silverware...

[DGA]

I've come into possession of an extensive set of Thai tableware: knives, forks, spoons and other utensils, all of them with an identical Buddha image in the handle. I'm not certain what the metal content of these items may be. When I received this set, everything was stashed in a badly broken and waterlogged teak box with velvet widgets inside that hold everything in place... when not broken and waterlogged. The label inside the box read something like Thai Heavy Industries, Inc. Looked mid-century to me.

Here is the question:

Any way to find out what kind of alloy these items are made of, so I can figure out how to clean them properly? The pieces are heavy and somewhat the color of bronze. I'm certain there's copper in there, as one of the Buddhas radiates a greenish patina.

[justsit]

Maybe some helpful info here?

You can also check ebay "thai silverware" for similar sets.

[DGA]

That's helpful, thanks. From that thread, I gathered it's one of these:

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/un ... e-flatware" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

which means maybe I'll ask someone who can cast bronze if it's possible to melt it all down and pour a statue out of it, because these aren't easy to keep clean

[Quiet Heart]

I wouldn't do anything until you determine what the metal is (Copper or Bronze?), how old it is? (mid what century. 1950's), and what the Buddha image is.
Is the image a Buddha image or is it some other image?
It could be some kind of a presentation set...or it may just be cheap junk.
But you will never know the answer to that until you do some research and checking on it's origin.
So don't just get it melted down until you are sure of exactly what it is.

[DGA]

Indeed. That's why I'm going to check with an expert in such things.

[PadmaVonSamba]

try cleaning them with tabasco sauce or another reddish hot sauce. This will not hurt the utensils (at least not any more than eating thai food would). also try toiomato juice, ketchup. etc. these work great on copper. For silver, use toothpaste (paste, not gel).