RIVER CITY BANGKOK

On his trips to Europe in the 1980’s, the antique markets of Paris intrigued Mr. Adisorn Charanachitta, CEO of Italthai Group. How wonderful it would be, he imagined, to have an antique centre on the banks for the Chao Phraya River. And so, in 1985 River City Bangkok was born.

In the pursuing years antique dealers and collectors from around the world made passage to Bangkok to scour the antique dealer galleries on all four floors of River City Bangkok, every floor filled with treasures from the Greater Mekong region and beyond. Magnificent pieces from Cambodia, Burma, Laos and Vietnam but also Nepal and China. Artefacts from across the centuries: Khmer and Burmese, Qing and Ming, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Rattanakosin periods. Collectors and traders would also travel to bid on items going under the hammer in River City’s auction house, RCB Auctions. For 36 years, RCB Auctions has been taking consignments from family estates from across Thailand for auction. Some of these precious items have been brought back from collections in Europe and North America. Beautiful Chinese and Thai porcelain, silverware, sculptures, jewellery and fine art.

In the past five years, River City Bangkok has transformed itself into a centre for lifelong learning. Where art-lovers and collectors can explore the art and antique galleries, watch international films and documentaries, attend a talk and meet artists and experts, see an international exhibition or gain a better understanding of the contemporary art scene.

Around River City Bangkok, Bangkok’s vibrant Creative District has developed, bringing the next generation of creative thinkers and talent with it. In 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that turned off travel, RCB Auctions launched online bidding and is now reaching out to collectors and traders around the world. Powered by international auction platform, INVALUABLE, whether in New York, London or downtown Bangkok you can bid on antiques and Thai contemporary art from the comfort of your armchair, on your laptop or smartphone.

Times change, and so does Thailand’s premier centre for arts and antiques, remaining as a magnet for collectors, traders and art-lovers from Thailand and the world over, fulfilling the vision of its founder for generations to come.

What’s On

• Exhibitions
• Events
• Film
• Music
• Auctions