Thua Thien – Hue (VNA) - More than 60 precious artifacts of the Nguyen dynasty(1802-1945) handed over to the interim government after the abdication of KingBao Dai in August 1945 are on display at the Hue Royal Antiques Museum.

The artifacts, made ofgold, silver, gemstones and tortoise shells, are part of a collection of 2,500items preserved by the Vietnam National History Museum.  

The most valuable andimportant items include royal seals made of pure gold, jade seals, swords, theking’s headwear and mandarin badges.

The exhibition alsodisplays objects used in royal worship and rituals, like candle holders, fruittrays, and aloe wood burner.

Other items used inroyal office, including brushes, inkstone, paperweights and pen holders alsoare showcased.

Visitors to theexhibition can also get glimpses of daily life in the court through other itemslike diner and tea sets, and betel nut sets.

Phan Thanh Hai, Directorof the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said the exhibition is being heldunder a cooperation programme between the centre and the National Museum ofHistory.

The programme, whichbegan last year, has organised two other exhibitions – Antique Jewelry of Vietnamand The Royal Seals and Books of the Nguyen Dynasty.

“However, this ongoingexhibition displays the biggest number of items, including some seals that wererarely seen even by royal mandarins. These seals are the ones that were handeddown from emperor to emperor, representing the supreme power and orthodoxy ofthe dynasty,” Hai said.

After King Bao Daiabdicated on August 25, 1945, the Nguyen dynasty handed over to the thenprovisional Government of Vietnam some 2,500 items which were brought to Hanoi forpreservation as the nation waged its resistance war against the return of theFrench colonialists.

In 2007, the State Bank of Vietnam handed over all the items, including 85golden and jade seals, to the Vietnam National Museum of History.

The exhibition will beopen to public until January 5, 2017, at 3 Le Truc Street.

Alongside theexhibition, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre has also released aphoto-book Bao Vat Hoang Cung (Royal Treasure), and The Museumof Hue Royal Antiques – Volume 8: Wooden Objects.– VNA