Artifacts of King Khai Dinh and Bao Dai to be auctioned

Auction house Lynda Trouvé has just introduced the Indochine Chapitre 15 session with 339 objects including paintings, photos, antiques, scheduled to take place on March 17 at the Drouot center. The album titled Nha Pho Huong Ky respectfully presented to the Minister of National Education on the occasion of Emperor Bao Dai's trip to Bac Ky, located in lot 101, is expected to reach a price of 8,000-10,000 euros (202-253 million VND).

According to the auction house, after nine years of studying in Paris, in 1932, Bao Dai returned to his homeland to take over the throne. The king traveled from Hue to Bac Ky to meet the people. The album consists of 428 silver prints, recording activities such as military parades with the presence of Governor Pasquier, horse racing, fairs, visits to craft workshops, the Bac Ky distillery association, and a visit to the Indochina College of Fine Arts with the reception of principal Victor Tardieu... Most of the photos have not been published. The album cover is decorated with dó paper, often used for royal decrees, written in Chinese characters.

"The exceptional quality of the photographs and their variety make this collection a unique testimony to the event," writes Lynda Trouvé.

Lot 97 includes two postcards of Khai Dinh visiting Saigon and Marseilles in May 1922, accompanied by a print of the French ship Messageries Maritimes; a set of eight silver prints of Bao Dai’s visit to Dalat High School. This lot is offered for sale at prices ranging from 80-120 euros (2-3 million VND).

The auction also offers a royal decree of King Khai Dinh, dated circa 1920, measuring 52x134cm, with an estimated price of 500-600 euros (12.6-15.2 million VND). The calligraphy text in Chinese characters is written on golden-colored Do paper, decorated with silver dragon motifs, and stamped with the king's red seal. In addition, the auction also introduces many photo albums, postcards, statues, and paintings by famous artists such as Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Nguyen Nam Son, Vu Cao Dam, etc. Of which, the work Thieu Nu with a vase of flowers (1930) by Le Pho is expected to reach the highest price of 500,000 euros (12.6 billion VND).

Lynda Trouvou, based in Paris, is one of the most prestigious auction houses in France. The company focuses on Indochina art, including paintings, photographs, and antiques from collectors around the world. In particular, the company opens many sessions on Nguyen Dynasty items or works by artists from the Indochina College of Fine Arts.

According to VnExpress