Learn about Vietnamese antiques at the Belgian museum

Nearly 3,000 artifacts dating back to before the 15th century are on display at the Royal Museum of Art and History of Belgium (MRAH), the largest collection of Vietnamese antiquities abroad.

A corner of the Vietnamese antiques gallery at the Royal Museum of Art and History of Belgium in Brussels. (Source: VNA)

The Royal Museum of Art and History of Belgium (MRAH) is an attractive cultural destination in the capital Brussels. It not only preserves the rich art and history of Belgium but also displays artifacts from many different cultures around the world, including Vietnam.

Entering the museum’s Southeast Asia section, visitors are taken on an exciting journey of discovery through the cultures of Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. The space is adorned with the traditional sounds of an Indonesian gamelan orchestra, along with images of serene Buddhas, uniquely patterned batiks and ancient bronze drums.

During the tour of the museum, visitors can clearly feel the prominence of the gallery of Vietnamese antiquities arranged in the Southeast Asian region. Nearly 3,000 artifacts dating back to before the 15th century are on display and are the largest collection of Vietnamese antiquities abroad, acquired by the museum from collector Clément Huet in 1952.

This collector worked in Vietnam from 1914-1938 and collected many Vietnamese cultural artifacts such as ceramics, statues, jewelry, weapons and ceremonial objects. Huet's collection provides a unique overview of Vietnamese culture and art before the 20th century.

A stone Buddha statue dating from the 5th-6th century, found in Thanh Hoa province. (Source: VNA)

According to Ms. Bowi Quibus, in charge of the Southeast Asia exhibition area, the artifacts are arranged according to two main criteria: chronology and theme, helping visitors easily follow the development of Vietnamese art and culture through the ages, while also better understanding the history and culture of this country. Visitors begin their journey to explore Vietnam from the first civilizations, with artifacts belonging to the Dong Son culture in the North, Sa Huynh in the Central region and Oc Eo in the South.

Highlights include stone jewelry, stone axes, bronze daggers, terracotta human statues... Next are ceramic jars and vases typical of the Sa Huynh culture, especially a pair of terracotta earrings dating from the 3rd century AD, an artifact donated to the museum by the Belgian-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce.

Visitors can also admire ancient ceramic artifacts excavated at Go Hoi (Binh Dinh) by the Royal Museum of Art and History of Belgium in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology and the Binh Dinh Provincial Museum in 2002, including a five-pronged chicken, a stack of fused-fired bowls, cups, bowls, plates, and bowls (broken) demonstrating the sophisticated crafting techniques and high-quality ceramics of this period.

The highlight of the gallery is the Dong Son bronze drums, a unique cultural symbol of Vietnam. In addition, visitors can also admire masterpieces of painted ceramics from the Ly and Tran dynasties; monochrome ceramics and exquisite blue and white ceramics.

Logan Vander Linden, a Belgian tourist, said he was very excited to explore the Vietnamese antiquities at this museum, from the way they were displayed to the explanations about their origins and meanings. Through viewing the antiquities, he learned more about the history of the Southeast Asian country.

Joss paper burning furnace - Tho Ha pottery product, dated 16th-7th century.

To preserve the massive collection of antiquities, the museum has installed a temperature and humidity sensor system to monitor environmental conditions, adjust the temperature and light in the gallery, ensuring that the antiquities are not affected by external factors.

The collection of Vietnamese antiquities at MRAH Museum is a testament to the rich cultural and artistic development of Vietnam through the dynasties. This is an ideal destination for visitors to explore and learn about the country and people of Vietnam.

The MRAH Museum was founded in 1835 and currently houses a massive collection of over 800,000 artifacts in the fields of art, history and archaeology from around the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tim-hieu-co-vat-viet-nam-tai-bao-tang-bi-268490.html