An image of the gold-decorated stand. Photo: Aguttes.

Several pieces of jewelry and artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty were successfully auctioned at the Asian Art session by Aguttes (France). Among them, a gold-decorated stand fetched the highest price, selling for €63,000. The final price, including additional fees, was estimated at around VND 2.3 billion, a figure that far exceeded initial estimates.

According to information provided by the auction house, the 18K gold stand was crafted in 1921 and served as a decorative item in a study room. The total weight of the artifact is 172 grams. "The intricate details reflect the style of the Khai Dinh and Bao Dai periods," the auction house noted.

The stand is designed in the shape of an arch, with two dragons raising a pearl encircled by a ring of flames, resembling the sun. The back of the piece features an embossed inscription reading “Promotion to Officer - Legion of Honor - January.”

The original owner of this stand was Dr. Laurent Joseph Gaide (1870-1960), a French director of the Indochina Health Department. He was awarded the title of Officer of the Legion of Honor in early 1921, coinciding with the period when the gold stand was crafted. It is believed that this item was a gift presented by the emperor to Dr. Gaide.

An example of Nguyen Dynasty art showcasing the dragon motif.

Researcher and artisan Vu Kim Loc analyzed the artifact, noting that its design theme can be described as "dragon bearing the sun," where the floral motifs also serve as a palanquin. The artwork clearly depicts kneeling legs on a support beam, with two dragons leaping from the water. The design aims to highlight the reverence for the sun, symbolizing the Nguyen Dynasty's reverence for the emperor (as the sun represented the emperor).

"It is highly likely that this piece was designed and crafted by the Nguyen Dynasty's Royal Goldsmith Department," remarked Vu Kim Loc.

Dragons have appeared in Vietnamese art for centuries, but it was during the Nguyen Dynasty that the dragon motif reached its peak in terms of themes, materials, and forms of expression.

The diverse representation of dragons in Nguyen Dynasty art is still preserved today. On materials like gold and silver, dragons are intricately carved, as seen in royal seals and decorative screens.

During the Nguyen period, dragon motifs were also crafted on various other materials, including lacquer, gold and silver leaf, jade, ivory, bone, enamelware, ceramics, textiles, and embroidery.

Tien Phong