Admire over 500 rare antiques through the ages 'Red River Civilization to Hanoi Street'

10/09/2024 | 07:52

TPO – On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital, the Hanoi Museum in collaboration with the Thang Long – Hanoi Antiquities Association organized the opening of the thematic exhibition “Red River Civilization to Hanoi Street”, introducing more than 500 unique antiques.

Admire more than 500 rare antiques through the periods of 'Red River Civilization to Hanoi Street' photo 1

Hanoi Museum in collaboration with the Thang Long – Hanoi Antiquities Association opened the thematic exhibition “Red River Civilization to Hanoi Street”. The event displayed more than 500 valuable antiques from members and collectors in the city, with the aim of spreading love for ancient Vietnamese ceramics and honoring the cultural and historical values of national antiques.

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The artifacts on display at the exhibition date back to many different periods, spanning the Vietnamese feudal dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen. Each artifact not only reflects the beauty of culture but also demonstrates the development of crafting techniques and art through each historical period.

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One of the most prominent artifacts in this exhibition is a statue of a bird from the 11th century. This artifact is not only symbolic but also a unique work. The bird's head has a duck's beak, holding a lotus stem, its body stands on a double lotus pedestal, its tail curves in a wave shape, decorated with Bodhi leaf motifs. This is a typical symbol of Buddhism from the 11th to 13th centuries.

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The bronze drum, dating from the 1st-3rd century BC, is a typical artifact of the Dong Son culture. The central part of the drum face is decorated with the image of a sun with 18 rays radiating around it, symbolizing life and strength.

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The drum face is intricately carved with four human statues, along with concentric circular floral motifs, reflecting the pinnacle of bronze crafting art of the ancient Vietnamese, as well as the unique spiritual and cultural values of this period.

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In addition, the Dong Son bronze exhibition - dating from the 5th century BC to the early 1st-3rd century AD - also introduces a variety of artifacts such as drums, jars, knives, axes, human statues, animal statues... These artifacts were discovered and collected mainly from provinces in the Northern Delta region and along major rivers such as the Red River (Hanoi), Ma River (Thanh Hoa), and Ca River (Nghe An).

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The group of ceramic artifacts - dating from the 11th-17th centuries includes jars, pots, animals, teapots, lime pots, bowls, plates... discovered and collected in the northern provinces of Vietnam such as Hai Duong, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An...

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The most remarkable ceramic artifacts include the dragon head and dragon tail ceramic teapot dating from the 14th-15th centuries, a unique artifact symbolizing power and strength. Both the head and tail of the teapot are intricately shaped like a dragon, demonstrating the high level of ceramic craftsmanship and the brilliant development of ceramic art during this period.

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The ceramic “lamp plate” dates from the 13th-15th century, during the Ly-Tran period, and was used in incense burning ceremonies, with a small statue placed in the middle.

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This is a ceramic wine pitcher, dating from the 11th-13th century, covered with white enamel and decorated with brown motifs typical of the Ly-Tran period. This wine pitcher stands out with a human head embossed on the front. During this period, white-glazed, brown-painted ceramic products were not only used in daily life but also had spiritual and cultural significance, used in ceremonies.

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Next is Vietnamese porcelain through historical periods, especially the porcelain signed by Vietnamese kings in the 18th and 19th centuries, which was ordered from China. These products include many types such as teapots, cups, plates, bowls, and wine bottles, which are exquisitely crafted and bear the mark of royal culture. (In the photo is a set of 18th century blue-and-white porcelain bowls).

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In addition, Chinese porcelain artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries, including jars, vases, flower pots, and pen holders, have also been collected from many provinces and major cities of present-day Vietnam such as Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City.

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The group of gilded wooden artifacts and worshiping objects include altars, shrines, horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences and statues... dating from the 17th-19th centuries, collected in northern provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh...