(TITC) - The History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City has just opened an online warehouse with the collection of precious artifacts of Victor Thomas Holbé (1857-1927). These artifacts are among the ones for the basis to establish the Museum of Blanchard de la Brosse in 1929 (now the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City).
Victor Thomas Holbé was a pharmacist working in the French Navy and was Vice President of the Colonial Council of Cochinchina. He was also a famous researcher and collector of antiquities. After Holbé's death, the Indochinese Studies Society (SEI) raised money to buy his collection with the cost of 45,000 Indochinese dong. Holbé collection included 2,160 artifacts made from many different materials and originated from the cultures of Viet Nam, China, Japan, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia... The Holbé collection, together with the existing artifacts of the SEI, was the basis for the establishment of Museum of Blanchard de la Brosse, the first museum in the Southern Viet Nam.
When the Museum of Blanchard de la Brosse was inaugurated on January 1, 1929, the collection of Holbé was displayed in the hall for the visitors; some of the artifacts were on display in famous sites in France, like Paris, Eiffel Tower, and Buffalo Bill. This is one of the collections of rare artifacts with historical, cultural and artistic value that History Museum of Ho Chi Minh continues to promote its value by presenting in the permanent exhibitions, thematic exhibitions and mobile exhibitions in some provincial museums in the Southern region.
The collection of artifacts in online warehouse is divided in some groups by materials and origins, such as:
- Group of ivory material originated from Viet Nam, China and Japan: seal (end 19th century - early 20th century); seals with character “Tho” meaning longevity from 1896 and 1857; holders in tube shape from 19th century;
- Group of gemstone material from China in the 18th-19th centuries: decorative object in round shape carved with dragon; bowls carved with flower and dragon, and bowl in shape of lotus leaf;
- Group of worship statues from 19th century: Buddha statues made from copper with paint coating including Sakyamuni and Maha Kaccayana in Thai-Burmese Buddhist art style, Bhaisajyaguru (Pharmaceutical) from Tibet...;
- Group of ceramic material originated from Viet Nam and China: decorative dishes (12-13th centuries) and lime pot (19th century), origin of Viet Nam; jars (late 19th century) from China.
The precious artifacts are presented at website of History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City at the address www.baotanglichsutphcm.com.vn
Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Director of the Museum of History of Ho Chi Minh City, said about the interesting opening of the museum’s online warehouse, that was, besides the simulations, expansions and additional collections of artifacts, the online or digital exhibitions became popular in the museums. The digital techniques support providing rich and diversified contents while creating direct interactions with viewers, which makes the museum being more and more completely.
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