The exhibition introduces nearly 100 documents and objects dating from the Le and Nguyen dynasties (from 17th to the early of 20th century) – the brilliant development stage of lacquering and gilding industry – including the unique and rare ones showed to the public for the first time. The objects selected for display are quite rich and varied on designs with unique decorative patterns. They belong to the Vietnam National Museum of History’s collection of lacquered and gilded wood objects which has been collected, researched and preserved for many years. The special exhibition: “Sparkling – Collection of lacquered and gilded wood objects” is organized into groups of objects that were displayed in religious places based on their similarities of style and function. For example, the group of worship statues includes: the Buddhas of the Three Times, Amitabha, Newborn Shakyamun, Guanyin, Bodhidharma and so on; the group of worship objects includes: altar, ancestral tablet, box of decree, vase, bottle, vase, horizontal board, panels and so on. In addition, some images of this kind of profession are also introduced.
With the fine carving, the shade of the red paint, the light of gold and the vividly decorative themes, the lacquered and gilded wood objects are always attached to solemn sites like royal palaces or places of worship. Furthermore, they are considered as artworks or holy objects.
The lacquered and gilded wood objects not only reflect the philosophy, the aesthetic thinking and the talent of forefathers but also contain the values of history, art, customs, habits, religions and beliefs.