After the opening of the exhibition “Vietnamese ancient jade”, which was organized on August 2nd 2011, the National Museum of Vietnamese History has introduced a same name publication about the precious and rare antiques that are housed and preserved in the museum to provide a comprehensive view to visitors.
The book “Vietnamese ancient jade” is about hundreds ancient jade objects, include many precious objects that had never been displayed in the museum before. Their date was from the Pre-Prohistory to the early of 20th century. Especially, in this book, the objects were aggregated in many angles so they are very lively. Therefore, visitors can approach a part of Vietnamese antiques - ancient jade objects.
Readers can find in the book some new studies about Vietnamese ancient jade in many periods of time. Through the development of national civilization, jade is a precious material that nobles and royals used for making daily goods and things. They are evidences to reflect Vietnamese history partly.
Vietnamese ancient jade objects appeared very early. In the Pre-Prohistory, jade materials were used to carve jewels, instruments, weapons and art statues. Archaeologists have found various objects made by jade with the same functions such as: earrings, bracelets… in Phung Nguyen culture.
In early 10 centuries after Christian era, acient jade objects were found proved the interference with Northern culture, there are some types: padlocks, decorative objects… almost of them were goods for bury in brick tombs in about 1st – 3rd cetury Anno Domini.
Unlike the simple jade processing techniques in Pre-Prohistory and 10 centuries after Christian era, objects from Le – Nguyen Dynasty are very diverse in both quantity and quality which has a large number in the collection. They date mainly from 18th to early of 20th century. Especially, the ancient jade objects in Nguyen Dynasty reveal highest development of mosaic on jade. There are many collections appeared in Nguyen Dynasty with various types, colours which are appriciated by researchers.
“Collection of jade objects of Nguyen dynasty not only to reflex sophisticated technique of traditional handicraft of Viet Nam, but demonstrated original significant glued Nguyen dynasty’s history in Viet Nam.
We contemplate Vietnamese ancient jade; we realized that they were different from Chinese ancient jade. These were talent objects of Vietnamese craftsmen in ancient time as the comment of Thieu Tri King “Vietnamese civilization was not less than Chinese civilization”.” – Cited to the book.
Images from the book “Vietnamese ancient jade”:
