Among vietnamese collectors, very few think and speak of the preservation of their own collection, though they are possessing a lot of sensible and fragile objects. They only boast of possessing rich ancient objects.
Among vietnamese collectors, very few think and speak of the preservation of their own collection, though they are possessing a lot of sensible and fragile objects. They only boast of possessing rich ancient objects.
A fragile bronze object, rusty by time, deeply buried in the earth, now is gathered and must be treated carefully, but on the contrary does not enjoy such consideration, and is transmitted from hand to hand without protection gloves, which aggravates the rustiness by sweat. The glassed cupboard containing it is full of water vapour, having an ill influence on the object.
Wooden objects are full of termites and harmful worms and are not treated. This situation worsens with time, not only for the very object but also for surrounding objects because the worms multiply very fast if one has no measures to stop them.
Paper and stuff objects are in a more serious situation. Humidity reduces documents, even of special paper, into shreds. Books in chinese and sino-vietnamese are mouldy and in a poor state. Clothes, carpets, flags are bored by mites like holes of gunshots, since there is no programme of permanent and active preservation and the harm risks to extend each day wider and wider and threatens to destroy thoroughly the ancient object.
These phenomena are current at the private collectors. Before this situation, they are powerless by lack of money and knowledges. On the other hand, they are not too anxious, thinking that these objects can still bear in comparison with the duration of human life.
I felt really ashamed when accompanying a foreign colleague to visit a private collection. She shook head all the time before the state of preservation in private houses and asked why the state did not help them. I try to explain, saying that the state has no money to help them. We still do not speak about local state museums where the state of preservation is still worse by lack of means. Besides, the group of preventive and active preservers of Vietnam is still very weak and cannot afford such a socialization.
In developed countries, private collections are considered as state collections, since they all are state properties provided they be legalised. Once acknowledged, these collections enjoy annual maintenance by specialists. In particular, precious state objects have a severe and permanent regime of maintenance.
Maintenance courses are opened, financed by organisations and companies, aiming at furnishing knowledges of preservation to private collectors.
Our country is still poor. The vietnamese group of preservation is still weak. The cultural patrimony is rich… That is why the state cannot help private collectors. We hope that collectors will not be indifferent toward their properties which are daily suffering damages, invisible to bare eyes.
Pham Quoc Quan