'RARE EARTH' -Tribal Art Gallery & Museum

'RARE EARTH' -Tribal Art Gallery & Museum

'RARE EARTH' -Tribal Art Gallery & Museum
3.5
Speciality & Gift ShopsAntique ShopsArt Museums
13:00 - 20:00
Monday
13:00 - 20:00
Tuesday
13:00 - 20:00
Wednesday
13:00 - 20:00
Thursday
13:00 - 20:00
Friday
13:00 - 20:00
Saturday
13:00 - 20:00
Sunday
13:00 - 20:00
About
Tribal Art Gallery & Museum-- Antique textiles, vintage ethnic costume, Old silver ornaments, Ancient beads, Objects of beauty and tradition.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles8 reviews
Excellent
4
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2

Betsy Wadden
Chiang Mai, Thailand1,018 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Solo
Rare Earth is a rare establishment in Chiang Mai. It was like a museum shop, and the owner was extremely knowledgeable about every piece, sharing deep knowledge through pictures in books and descriptions of the lineages of the weavings, artwork, mala beads, sacred images and hand made silver jewelry, everything that I love about Chiang Mai and Thailand. I purchased a Shaman's cloth for a fair price, probably 80 years old, with great energy and high vibration. I Will out it to good use and carry on it's power.
Visit rare Earth to buy beautiful and rare gifts for yourself or your loved one, or just come to see a glimpse of the past and learn about this graceful, gentle country and it's rich varied ancestory.
Written 20 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your purchases and for your kind review. We hope to see you again at the gallery, next time you visit Chiang Mai.
Written 21 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JohnLuke123
7 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2017 • Solo
A healthty genuine intrepid interest in the shop was sadly ruined by a nasty thin wiry English man who made me feel unwelcomed after entering the shop. He made me uneasy and later whist asking a few of the locals i was informed he has a reputation as an odd vindictive man. Avoid the experience is my advice.
Written 10 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Musttravel56
Montreal, Canada35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Solo
I have just read the above review which saddens me with its ignorance. This is not just one more trashy souvenir store pushing imitation antique Buddhas and cheap trinkets. I spent well over 9,000 Bhat on a wooden standing Lanna Buddha which the owner actually mailed to me after my return to Montreal as I could not get it out of my head when I had left Chiang Mai. I have absolutely no regrets four years later. The owner has a deep feeling for the disappearing world of the objects that fill the shelves of Rare Earth. He deserves respect. Think of him more as a museum curator who makes a living collecting and selling. If you cannot see the difference between the "high priced" stuff and the junk sold in most other stores, try to learn why. And don't waste your money until one day perhaps if your eyes and your heart will open.
Written 14 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good to hear from you again,and thank you for your kind and supportive message. These days the kind of special objects and items which we have always tried our best to source for discerning clients such as yourself, are becoming very difficult to track down, but we still have a large selection of tribal and ethnic artefacts at our gallery. Since you purchased the Lanna standing Buddha image from us, we have not found another of this type and quality. Once again, thank you for your support and praise; and please let us know if you come back to Chiang Mai, or if we can be of assistance in any way .
Written 17 June 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Malcolm5251
Lamai Beach, Thailand48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Solo
I visited Rare Earth on a number of occasions on my last visit to Chiang Mai and found an exclusive business with beautifuly presented and unique items. I am particularly interested in Thai Hill Tribe artefacts and purchased a number of items. As well as excellent quality items the proprietor was very generous with his time and graciously shared his obvious knowledge of the subject with me. I will certainly visit again on my next visit to the city.
Written 23 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing review,and we are glad that you were pleased with your purchases .It is always a pleasure to do business with those who understand and appreciate our collection and the knowledge of the items ,that we are pleased to share with customers such as yourself. We look forward to seeing you again on your next visit to the gallery. Best regards, 'RARE EARTH'
Written 24 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

echoytx
Hong Kong, China144 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Friends
My girlfriends and I walked into this boutique which is decorated neat and pretty. I asked the sales girl how much was a necklace that looked rather nice but seemed to be made with colored wood. A man walked in, told the girl and the girl responded to me it was 9000 baht. We are in Thailand, on a touristy strip, and its neighbors spot things for 300 baht, so naturally we made an exclamation "9000 baht!". The man said bitterly: this kind of things should go for 12,000 baht. You are lucky we still have the old price tag on. OK we were interested and asked what was it made of? What is so special about it? We asked, twice. If we want to pay that kind of price, shouldn't we learn about it? No sales speech at all. The man simply, while tapping away on this phone, said 'it is made of glass'. NADA and NIL other explanation or any interests to engage with us.
We continued to browse and were actually appreciating the pretty merchandise. Out of nowhere, this man said "it you are looking for cheap stuff, we do not have cheap stuff". At this point we were really taken aback by this rudeness. My girlfriend responded that "we are customers and you really should treat your customers better". He said "but you were surprised that it was 9000 baht". Eh yes, what is wrong with that?! and we were just surprised this man was plainly rude. You don't have a big sign on your door that be everyone walking in should know the merchandise your carry and price tags on them!?! And he continued to tap on his phone not even looking at us in the eyes, and just waved us off.
It was truly the most horrid experience I have ever had in Thailand and this man (who is a white guy probably in his 70s), tarnishes the reputation of Thailand as a land of smiles.
We are actually in Chiang Mai as a big convention group, and undoubtedly shared this experience with our fellow members. We will also be writing to Chiang Mai tourism board, because this kind of rudeness simply has no place in retail.
Written 12 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Firstly we would like to state that this complaint review can easily be seen as a knee jerk and over reaction to a minor blip of PR in our long history. It was related to us by our salesperson that these three people had walked into the gallery without heeding the sign at the door to please remove shoes ,and had taken a rare fragile antique necklace from its stand, ignoring the signs that are displayed inside which read politely that customers are requested to ask before touching the displays. This is due to the fact that all the objects and textiles on display are rare,expensive and can be easily damaged by casual handling.We do not particularly advocate the use of signage in such a situation ,but in order to protect and avoid damage , wear and tear to our valuable, and in some cases ,very fragile stock, we felt the need. We have found from experience that when a customer responds in a surprised or indignant manner to the pricing of an item,before even asking if the price can be discounted , then the chances are that they are unlikely to make a purchase and are merely 'window shopping' ,and perhaps because the gallery is situated in Chiang Mai ,expect that everything is cheaply priced, in line with many of the mass produced goods that are seen offered in many locations in Chiang Mai.The reviewer has already said here herself that she had been experiencing many " 300 baht item" type shops before visiting our Tribal Art gallery. 'RARE EARTH' is a long established gallery offering rare and specialist items ,and has a varied and extensive clientele of collectors and dealers in antique Tribal Art from all over the world The person to which which this complaint is directed is in fact not an employee as such ,but rather a 'sleeping partner' who had called by at that time to check on the gallery on behalf of the owner,a very close friend of his, who is currently fighting for her life undergoing chemotherapy in a Bangkok hospital. He,himself is also currently suffering from a long debilitating illness; and these factors may be seen to affect his state of mind at the time ,and thereby his curt responses to the reviewer complaining here,who was obviously expecting to find "300 baht ($10) items in whichever retail outlet they walked into on this "touristy strip ". She,according to our sales person ,was visibly shocked when told that an antique and rare glass necklace was 9000 baht . We are an established business with a very long list of satisfied customers over the years, who have acquired items that are indeed pieces of history and tradition . We are always happy to meet new clients and customers with a true interest in acquiring specialised antique and ancient items of Tribal and Ethnic origins. Please contact us prior to your visit if you wish to make an appointment to view the gallery-- in some cases transport can be arranged from your hotel. Thank you . 'RARE EARTH' Public Relations
Written 14 October 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Resort549367
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Solo
This place is a small museum of antiques mostly tribal and Chinese collected over the years by a passionate characters whose knowledge is very impressive, just as much as the wide and stunning collection shown in the shop
A rare jewel indeed in This town where such things are becoming rare if not invisible
A MUST place to see visit and buy from, plus the quality and authenticity are not to be questioned unlike most Thai shop dealing in antiques and selling mostly fakes
My favorite shop in Thailand
Written 12 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind and much appreciated review,and hope to see you again in the not too distant future. Best Regards, 'RARE EARTH'
Written 24 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Raintree_Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand3,818 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Solo
Interesting boutique shop. Lots of unique and interesting items. Generally high quality. Prices higher accordingly.
Written 16 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your most gratifying review and for your repeated business with us. We hope that you will visit us again soon. Best Regards, 'RARE EARTH'
Written 24 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

wintermute87
Lawrence, Kansas178 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
This should be listed under shopping but it showed up as an attraction. It's a charming boutique, I've been tempted to buy things there but never had. It's expensive but thai standards but average priced by western standards
Written 20 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting the gallery,and we hope that you will do so again in the future . Best Regards, 'RARE EARTH'
Written 24 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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'RARE EARTH' -TRIBAL ART GALLERY & MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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'RARE EARTH' -Tribal Art Gallery & Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 13:00 - 20:00

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