In an effort to contribute to preserving and promoting the value of national cultural heritage, the thematic exhibition ‘The 3^rd collection of antiquities of the Da Nang people’ is now underway from June 17 to the end of July 17 at the Museum of Da Nang. On display at the event is the collection of 70 artifacts selected from many different types and materials dating from the 15^th century to the feudal Nguyen Dynasty by private collectors.

Chinese ceramics (left) dating from the 17th - 19th centuries by collector Pham Phu Khanh and Chu Dau ceramic plates by collector Truong Hoai Tuyen dating from the 16th - 17th centuries. Photo: H.V

The exhibition introduced the public 70 artifacts of antique collectors such as Ho Anh Tuan with a collection of antiques from the Nguyen Dynasty at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the early 12^th century, including ceramics, carved wooden furniture, square trays inlaid with snails, caskets inlaid with betel nut utensils, lacquer caskets’ collector Truong Hoai Tuyen with Chu Dau pottery dating from the 16^th - 17^th centuries; collector Pham Phu Khanh with Chinese ceramics of the 17^th - 19^th centuries; collector Le Phuoc Quang with a collection of oil lamps in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries and collector Dang Le Kim Hoa with a collection of antique coins.

Collector Dang Le Kim Hoa, 43, has devoted his love and energy to searching and collecting coins in the world. In particular, it is worth mentioning the collection of Vietnamese ancient coins associated with the long history of forming, building and defending the country. From coins minted from the reign of King Dinh Tien Hoang (970 - 979) with the ‘Thai Binh Hung Bao’ (the first cash coin produced in Viet Nam as well as the oldest currency ever natively produced there) till the French colonial period as well as the coins of the country when the two main regions were still divided and the complete collection of coins produced by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Till date, he has a diverse and rare collection of ancient coins and is quite famous among antique coin collectors in Da Nang.

“Through the exhibition, we realized the responsibility of joining hands with the cultural industry in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of the nation. Wishing the collection to be kept the best, we will donate all antiques to the Museum of Da Nang for display and introduction to domestic and international visitors.”, Mr. Hoa said.

Meanwhile, collector Pham Phu Khanh, 63, said that he has had an interest in collecting Chinese ceramics since he was a young man. Not only collecting, he also learns from others’ experience and grasps an insight into topics, stories, and origins of antiques and this is the factor that makes antiques more soulful.

In the bustling atmosphere of the exhibition, Mr. Huynh Van Lien, 50, from Hai Chau District said: "I am very fond of antiques, especially coins, ceramic vases. Although antiques have simple carving patterns, for me, it is extremely attractive and sharp. I started my passion for antiques by being curious and often researching antiques through the ages on social networks, museums or exchanging knowledge with members who have the same passion as me. Seeing all the antiques displayed by each collector and specific category, I love and appreciate the memorabilia left by our predecessors”.

While admiring the collection of collector Truong Hoai Tuyen, students Tran Thi Nguyet and Nguyen Truc Linh from the Da Nang University of Architecture boasted: “We have the same hobby of finding and researching for antiques. In addition, I have formed a small group of 6 friends who often draw portraits of antiques such as cups, plates, bowls, vases and pots with lids. We were very happy to visit such an exhibition and talk with antique collectors to better understand the collection process as well as how to keep the artifacts for a long time”.

According to Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, the Director of the Museum of Da Nang, this ongoing exhibition is part of a series of activities, cultural events - festivals on both sides of the iconic Han River and celebrations for the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023.

“Da Nang is home to a large number of private antique collectors and it has established many antiquities associations. Therefore, private collectors are dubbed as the arm with the cultural industry to preserve precious heritage.The exhibition is a trip through time to the past, serving the public's need to enjoy the beauty of antiques collected by Da Nang people. At the same time, the artifacts are a call to remind us all of the cause of preserving and promoting the value of the national cultural heritage.”, Mr. Thien said.

Reporting by HUYEN VU - Translating by A.THU