Items that were once used by kings and royal family members during theNguyen dynasty (1802-1945) are to be returned by France and displayed inthe central city of Hue.
According to officials at the HueMonuments Conservation Centre, the centre has succeeded in arranging forthe return of a royal bed and a cart that had once been the property ofthe royal family.
The royal bed was used by the 10th emperor ofthe dynasty, King Thanh Thai (1879-1954), and the royal cart was a giftfrom the king to his mother for transporting her inside the royalgarden within the Imperial Palace in Hue.
The royal bed is madeof wood, measuring 191cm high, 212cm long and 140cm wide and displayingthe royal family's carved pattern. The cart is 136cm high, 230cm longand 102cm wide, and built of wood and metal.
Both items were signed by the Vietnamese artisans who built them.
The items are expected to be displayed in Vietnam as national treasures.
"Thanksto joint efforts between the centre, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,and Vietnamese Embassy in France, Vietnamese representatives won anauction for the cart and we are fulfilling necessary procedures totransport it to Vietnam," said the centre's director, Phan Thanh Hai.
"Anoverseas Vietnamese, who has a family connection with the king, won theauction for the royal bed and he wants to donate it to Hue."
Theauctions were conducted at Guimet museum in Paris last month. The cartwas sold for 45,000 euros and the royal bed for 100,000 euros. Anadditional cost of 24 percent for the value of each item is to becharged by the auction house.
Hai said when the items arereturned, the centre will petition to higher ranking authorities fortheir recognition as national treasures.
However, the return ofthe items has not been simple, as the centre had to raise 3,500 euros topay for the shipping. A fund raising campaign was held in the countryto help raise the money. Officials expects more donations to arrive fromthroughout the country.-VNA
According to officials at the HueMonuments Conservation Centre, the centre has succeeded in arranging forthe return of a royal bed and a cart that had once been the property ofthe royal family.
The royal bed was used by the 10th emperor ofthe dynasty, King Thanh Thai (1879-1954), and the royal cart was a giftfrom the king to his mother for transporting her inside the royalgarden within the Imperial Palace in Hue.
The royal bed is madeof wood, measuring 191cm high, 212cm long and 140cm wide and displayingthe royal family's carved pattern. The cart is 136cm high, 230cm longand 102cm wide, and built of wood and metal.
Both items were signed by the Vietnamese artisans who built them.
The items are expected to be displayed in Vietnam as national treasures.
"Thanksto joint efforts between the centre, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,and Vietnamese Embassy in France, Vietnamese representatives won anauction for the cart and we are fulfilling necessary procedures totransport it to Vietnam," said the centre's director, Phan Thanh Hai.
"Anoverseas Vietnamese, who has a family connection with the king, won theauction for the royal bed and he wants to donate it to Hue."
Theauctions were conducted at Guimet museum in Paris last month. The cartwas sold for 45,000 euros and the royal bed for 100,000 euros. Anadditional cost of 24 percent for the value of each item is to becharged by the auction house.
Hai said when the items arereturned, the centre will petition to higher ranking authorities fortheir recognition as national treasures.
However, the return ofthe items has not been simple, as the centre had to raise 3,500 euros topay for the shipping. A fund raising campaign was held in the countryto help raise the money. Officials expects more donations to arrive fromthroughout the country.-VNA
