Unique ancient ceramic collection of Chu Van Nam

Mr. Chu Van Nam, Chairman of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club, with his collection of ancient ceramics kept and displayed at home. Photo: L.Na

Mr. Chu Van Nam's collection has now exceeded 400 artifacts, most of which are ancient ceramics from Bien Hoa - Dong Nai . Many rare ancient ceramic products were auctioned from Europe.

Antiques - the connecting thread between two generations

Chu Van Nam's small house is located in a quiet alley in Quang Vinh ward (Bien Hoa city). This is where Nam was exposed to the world of antiques since he was a child through stories and artifacts from his father - a soldier who has been collecting antiques for over 30 years. His father owns a collection of thousands of valuable antiques, from wooden, bronze, iron objects to ancient ceramics of many ages.

Mr. Nam said: “Since I was very young, I often participated in exchanges and shared antiques with my father and antique enthusiasts from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. Although I studied construction, my love for antiques has been ingrained in my blood and has instilled a lasting love in me. 10 years ago, I started collecting small items, then gradually expanded my collection, participating in international auctions to bring back valuable ancient ceramic artifacts.”

From the love of antiques nurtured through generations, to the passion for preserving cultural values, Mr. CHU VAN NAM's 10-year journey is a living testament to the vitality of ancient Vietnamese ceramics amidst the modern flow. And certainly, that is just the beginning of a longer journey on the path of spreading the traditional culture of the nation that he is on.

Unlike his father who collects a variety of antiques, Nam devotes his passion to ancient ceramics. Currently, his collection of ancient ceramics at home exceeds 400 items, mainly ancient Bien Hoa ceramics and the quintessence of Vietnamese ceramics that were once famous. Each artifact is carefully searched for and preserved by him as "witnesses" of history, culture and national memory. Some items he finds from old craft villages that are gradually fading away, some are bought on business trips, from people's homes or at auctions abroad...

“My father inspired me and taught me how to play with antiques, distinguish ancient ceramics, from patterns, glaze colors, designs... Gradually, I learned how to look, feel and love each ancient ceramic product. The more I learned, the more passionate I became and wanted to share that passion with people who also love antiques,” said Nam.

Sharing the same hobby and passion for collecting antiques, many people in the province gathered together to establish the Bien Hoa Antiques and Relics Club and Mr. Nam was elected as the Club's Chairman. Although it has only been established for more than 5 months, the Club has been operating vigorously, actively participating in many ceramic exhibitions at the Dong Nai Provincial Museum and public cultural spaces in the province. Thereby, contributing to preserving and promoting the unique value of Bien Hoa ceramics in particular and relics and antiques in general.

Ancient pottery and the journey of historical storytelling

In the space "filled with the smell of time" in Mr. Nam's house, ceramic vases, ceramic paintings, ceramic plates... are not only displayed, but also cherished like friends. What is special about his collection is that many artifacts carry Vietnamese values. These are images of the Southern countryside market, traditional festivals of ethnic minorities, the gong culture of the Central Highlands or the story of returning home to pay respect to ancestors, the story of Hai Ba Trung fighting the enemy... Each ancient ceramic item is a "memory excerpt", conveyed through the drawings, patterns and glazes typical of the Bien Hoa - Dong Nai region in particular, and Vietnam in general.

Mr. Nam confided: “I love ancient pottery because it tells historical stories in a wordless language. I find in it not only aesthetics, but also the cultural soul. Many of the ancient pottery products I collect are salvaged from the Dong Nai River. Although the appearance of these ancient pottery is not beautiful, inside they contain a layer of sediments of time. The cracks, breaks, and mottled glaze are traces of many historical changes, living proof of the life of ancient residents on the banks of the Dong Nai River.”

Mr. Nam's small house has therefore become a familiar meeting place for antique lovers, connecting like-minded souls to exchange, trade and buy and sell antiques. He also proactively brought his precious collection to display at many exhibitions in Dong Nai, the region and nationwide such as: Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue... It is also an opportunity for the ancient pottery of the land with more than 325 years of formation and development to tell stories, closer to today's young generation.

Referring to the ancient ceramic collection of Mr. Chu Van Nam, Master Dinh Cong Viet Khoi, Head of the Ceramics - Sculpture Department, Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts, said that many artifacts in Mr. Nam's collection are hundreds of years old, clearly showing historical and artistic value. Not only preserving, Mr. Nam also shows a profound cultural responsibility through preserving and introducing the values of ancient Bien Hoa ceramics to the community, contributing to recreating the flow of national memories, connecting traditional culture with contemporary breath, inspiring future generations.

Ly Na

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202505/doc-dao-bo-suu-tap-gom-co-cua-chu-van-nam-1027ff4/