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Social Affairs
Aug 16, 2017 / 10:08

Hanoi gives permission for antique auction: remain concern

Nguyen Tung - Nhat Vu

This is the first time Vietnam has such an antique auction in public with the government’s protection.

Antique such as a 2000-year-old bronze vessel from the Dong Son culture, a ceramic jar with brown patterns dating back to the 13th century in the Tran Dynasty, and an enamel box of the royal family from the mid-19th century in the Nguyen Dynasty.
 
Rare antique

The bronze vessel is an example of Dong Son culture, showing the ancient Viet people were masters of bronze casting with a high sense of creativity and aesthetics. The ceramic jar with brown patterns is perhaps the foremost expression of ceramic art during the Tran Dynasty, while the enamel box was used to contain gifts for the king and his royal family in the Nguyen Dynasty. 
 
Bronze vessel dating back to 2000 years ago will be auctioned in August 19.
Bronze vessel dating back to 2000 years ago will be auctioned in August 19.
Assoc. Dr. Bui Van Lien – member of the Vietnam council of national cultural heritage said, the bronze vessel is a rare antique with the whole body remains intact. This vessel has one of the biggest size among similar vessels of Dong Son culture, which has never before showed up in museum or individual collection. As such this is a valuable item deserves to be preserved and beheld. In addition to antiques and ruby star jewelries, the auction also included artistic works made by artisan from the handicraft Kieu Ky village wellknown for thin gold-leaves and leather-made goods. 5 golden coated statues of the Great king Hung Dao Chan Quoc Tuan being auctioned this time are their dedication to profession. 

According to Document No. 3110/UBND-KGVX, Hanoi People’s Committe has authorized the No.5 National Auction JSC to hold an antique auction for 3 mentioned above antiques and 5 statues. The Chairman of Vietnam Gems & Jewelry Art Association Hoang The Ngu said, this is the first time Vietnam to have an antique auction in public with the government’s protection. The event has brough joy and hope for individuals with strong passion for antique collection. In the past, Vietnamese law has specific regulation with regard to antique transaction. However, in reality, Vietnam has not had an antique market, while antique buying and selling often happens spontaneously, posing risks to collectors for buying fake antique with no record of origin. 

This time, these antiques for auction have been professionally evaluated and registered by competent agencies, have their records of legal origin. Therefore, the auction will take place in public, while foreign collectors can also take part in the process under the law on property auction 2016. However, according to the Ministry of culture, sport & tourism, bronze vessel and ceramic jar are under the antique category which are not allowed to bring abroad. As such, in case foreign collector win these items in this auction, administrative agencies need to have measures preventing these items from getting out of the country. Besides a more open method for antique transaction, the government need to have regulations to ensuring our tangible cultural heritage is not vanished.  

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