Samples
How to order and approve bronze samples before a wholesale order
How to order and approve bronze samples before a wholesale order: catalogue vs cast-to-drawing samples, what to measure, and how the sample sets the lot.
Order one sample for each line you plan to stock, not the whole catalogue. For stock designs we send a catalogue sample; for your own pattern we cast a sample to your drawing, and the casting alone takes 21–30 days. Samples travel by air from Ha Noi, and the sample cost is credited against your first production order. The part that decides whether the wholesale order goes well is what you check when the box opens, and how that sample becomes the reference for every piece after it.
Catalogue sample or cast-to-drawing sample
There are two kinds of sample, and they answer different questions. A catalogue sample tells you whether our standard pieces suit your market. A cast-to-drawing sample tells you whether we can hold your design.
| Sample type | Use it when | What sets the date | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue sample | You are testing standard sizes and finishes for a first order | Whether that size and finish are on the shelf this week | Credited against the first production order |
| Cast-to-drawing sample | You need your own pattern, size or mark | Pattern making, then 21–30 days of casting, then finishing | Credited against the first production order |
Both are confirmed in writing on the quotation. The full starting terms, including Incoterms and payment, are on our trade terms page.
What to measure when the sample arrives
Open the carton with a tape, a pair of calipers and a scale nearby. These are the checks that tell you most about how a production lot will turn out:
- Wall thickness. The censer wall should be about 5 mm, rising to 8 mm where legs and handles carry weight. Measure at the rim and at the joints, not only where it is easy to reach.
- Weight. A size 65 five-piece set weighs about 36 kg. A set that feels far lighter usually has thin walls, and thin walls are where cracks start.
- Proportions within the set. The cranes stand 5–7 cm taller than the censer, the candlesticks sit 12–15 cm lower, and the incense bowl is about one third of the censer's height. If those ratios are off, the set will look wrong on an altar even when each piece is well cast.
- Overall size. A hand-cast piece can be 1–3 cm off the listed height. That is normal. More than 5 cm is a fault.
- Finish and mark. Check the patina or lacquer in daylight, and check that any mark is cast into the base rather than stamped on afterwards.
A reference table for a size 65 set
Print this and fill in the last column while the sample is on the bench.
| Check | Reference | Flag it if | Your reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Censer wall | about 5 mm | clearly thinner at the rim | |
| Load points (legs, handles) | up to 8 mm | same thickness as the wall | |
| Set weight | about 36 kg | far below that | |
| Cranes vs censer | 5–7 cm taller | level with or shorter than the censer | |
| Candlesticks vs censer | 12–15 cm lower | close to censer height | |
| Incense bowl | about 1/3 of censer height | visibly out of scale | |
| Height vs listing | within 1–3 cm | more than 5 cm off |
Why a few centimetres of variation is normal in sand casting is explained in our guide to tolerances in hand casting.
Turning the sample into the standard for the lot
An approved sample is only useful if both sides agree it is the reference. When you approve it, photograph it next to a ruler, write down the measurements from the table above, and keep the piece. Send us the photos and numbers on WhatsApp so the same record sits in our file. The production lot is then checked against that sample, not against a memory of it. Our pre-shipment inspection guide shows how that comparison works before the crates are closed.
Samples for your own pattern
If you are commissioning a design, the sample is also the test of the pattern. Send a drawing, a 3D file or a physical piece. We cast one sample for approval, correct the pattern if needed, then keep it for repeat orders. A private pattern is never cast for another buyer. How we handle moulds and marks is set out on the OEM and tooling page.
Planning the calendar around a sample
Count backwards from the date you need stock. A cast-to-drawing sample needs pattern work plus the 21–30 day casting window, then air freight and your review. The production order follows the same casting window, then finishing and sea freight. The weeks before Lunar New Year are the busiest of the year for a Vietnamese foundry, so an approval that lands in December can push production well into the new year.
If you are travelling in Vietnam, you can also see finished pieces at our showrooms in Nam Dinh, Ha Noi and Hai Phong before you choose which samples to order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay for samples?
Yes. The sample cost is stated on the quotation and credited against your first production order.
Can one sample cover several sizes?
For proportions and finish, often yes. For weight and wall thickness, sample the size you will order most, because those change with size.
How are samples shipped?
By air from Ha Noi. Freight is quoted separately with the sample.
What if the sample is wrong?
Tell us which measurement is off and by how much. For a cast-to-drawing piece we correct the pattern and recast before production starts.
Will production pieces match the sample exactly?
Within hand-casting tolerance: 1–3 cm on height is normal, more than 5 cm is treated as a fault.
Ready to sample a line? Send the items, sizes and finish you want to test on WhatsApp at +84 926 199 999, or use the request a quote form. We reply with a sample quotation within two working days.