PARIS.- Following the success of their record breaking Asian art auction in June, Millon auction house will host their next auction Arts Du Vietnam this fall at the Hotel Drouot. Spearheaded by expert and Asian art specialist, Jean Gauchet, this is the first art auction featuring only Vietnamese fine art. Under Gauchet’s procuration, the sale boasts an impressive display of artistic traditions pre and post revolution. Highlighting ancient and modern works of art, the auction showcases over 200 rare artworks from private collections.. The exhibition features important imperial porcelain, remarkable lacquerware, woodcarvings, rare books, as well as a series of paintings from modernists Henri Mege, Vu Cao Dam, Nguyen Van Ro and Tran Huu Chat.

The auction exposes influential works of art during Vietnam’s historical and modern period, which have not only enriched the Vietnamese culture but have also shaped European artistic ethos. The extensive catalog will portray major artists of Vietnam; key innovations of Vietnamese folk arts and culture; while also conveying the collective memory and creative intricacies of the Vietnamese diaspora.

As the Vietnamese economy has exploded so has the interest in artworks from Vietnam. There has been a significant rise in interest for Vietnamese art during the past three decades, as the country’s economy opened to the Western market. The surmounting exposure of Vietnamese art has created a strong appreciation and demand from art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Notable artworks in the sale include a “guestbook” including a sketch by Vietnamese artist, Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000) for the Les Palmiers restaurant in Saint Paul de Vence. This rare and unique treasure offers a glimpse into some of history’s most notable characters. Inside the book are are two sketched dedications from Marc Chagall, a page from George Braque, as well as photographs and personalized notes from the most famous actors, politicians and writers during the era. Vu Cao Dam is perhaps one of the most recognized artists of the modern Vietnamese art era. His artworks belong to the permanent collections of the Museums of Algiers, Beziers, Musee de la France d’Outre Mer and the Musee d’Art in Paris, as well as numerous private collections.

Lot 101. Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000) et divers, Livre d’or du restaurant ‘Les Palmiers’ à Saint Paul de Vence, 35.5 x 27 x 5 cm. Estimation : 6 000 € - 8 000 €. Résultat 4 000 €. © Millon 

Élégant livre d’Or comprenant:
un dessin à l’encre de Vũ Cao Đàm 1953,
signatures de : Marc Chagall 1953, Georges Braque 1954, Jacques Prévert 1953 et divers.
Multitude de photos, inscriptions dédicaces et dessins d’acteurs, artistes et personnes célèbres.

Included in the sale is a diptych lacquer panel signed by artist Nguyễn Văn Rô (1921-1997). The panels titled, Bambous (1955), exemplify the extraordinary detail and eloquence Vietnamese lacquerware masters during the period. Trần Hữu Chất (1933-2018) has three works in the auction. He was a Vietnamese artist known for his carved lacquer paintings of village scenes. In his recent death, his work has become even more sought after by private collectors. A number of Chat’s works are held in the collections of the National Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam in Hanoi.

Lot 50. Nguyễn Văn Rô (1921-1997), Bambous, 1955, 140 x 85 cm (chaque). Estimation : 30 000 € - 40 000 €. Invendu. © Millon 

Paire de grands panneaux en laque à l’or sur fond rouge, chacun représentant des branches de bambous. Signature en cachet et manuscrite de Nguyễn Văn Rô ainsi qu’une datation cyclique correspondant à 1955.

Un encadrement en coquille d’oeuf laqué terminant chacun des panneaux aux extrémités haute et basse.

La couleur de fond rouge utilisée pour cette paire de panneau est similaire au rouge choisi pour être la couleur de fond du drapeau Vietnamien a partir de 1945 et symbolise le sang versé pour l’indépendance du pays.

Note: Professeur à l’école des beaux-arts de Gia Dinh dans le Sud du Vietnam entre 1955 et 1975, Nguyễn Văn Rô fait partie des quelques grands maîtres laqueurs Vietnamiens qui ont décidé de rester dans leur pays natal malgré la période de guerre d’indépendance. Il fit le choix d’y enseigner sa spécialité et forma de futurs grands artistes tels que Nguyễn Van Minh (1930-2014).

 Lot 60. Trần Hữu Chất (1933-2018), Village de Bac Ha, 1981. Panneau en bois laqué gravé, signé et daté en bas à gauche, 100 x 150 cm. Estimation : 8 000 € - 10 000 €. Invendu. © Millon 

Note: Trần Hữu Chất was a Vietnamese artist known for his carved lacquer paintings of village scenes. Chất’s depictions of the conflict with the United States during the 1960s won him acclaim through his country. Born on July 10, 1933 in Cháu Tiên, Vietnam, he went on to work for the Communist Party during the mid-1940s as a slogan writer and illustrator against the French occupation. In 1956, he studied at the Hanoi Academy of Fine Art under Hoàng Tích Chù, and gained recognition as an illustrator of children’s books during peacetime. Following postgraduate studies in China and France, he was sent to the frontlines of the Vietnam War to depict the struggle of the Viet Cong. Later in his career, Chất focused mainly on depicting ethnic minorities in the countryside. The artist died in 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Today, a number of Chất’s works are held in the collections of the National Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam in Hanoi. 

Lot 61. Trần Hữu Chất (1933-2018), Le Rituel, 2005. Panneau en bois laqué gravé, signé et daté en bas à droite, 60 x 90 cm. Estimation : 8 000 € - 10 000 €. Invendu. © Millon 

The auction also features a collection of paintings signed by French artist Joseph Inguimberty and Henri Mege (1904-1984). Mege was known for his “painting knife technique” and specialized in painting scenes from his travels in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Many of Mege’s paintings depict the river and importance of trade along the rivers in Vietnam. The auction equally recognizes the more traditional artworks of historical Vietnam with an impressive display of blue and white porcelain.

Lot 104. Joseph Inguimberty (1896-1971), Paysage, Huile sur toile, signée en bas à droite. Non cardée. 78.5 x 92 cm (Petits manques). Estimation : 6 000 € - 8 000 €. Résultat 6 800 €. © Millon 

Joseph Inguimberty (1896–1971) was a French painter, and teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in Hanoi. His teaching was appreciated for being less academic than the director Victor Tardieu. Inguimberty encouraged his students to experiment with lacquer painting as a fine art painting medium.

Lot 109. Henri Mege  (1904-1984), Matin à Thu Duc. Huile sur toile, signée en bas à gauche. 46.5 x 65 cm. Estimation : 4 000 € - 6 000 €. Invendu. © Millon 

The auction features a collection of paintings signed by French artist Henri Mege (1904-1984). Mege was known for his “painting knife technique” and specialized in painting scenes from his travels in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Many of Mege’s paintings depict the river and importance of trade along the rivers in Vietnam. Mege’s paintings expose the “exoticism” of a relatively unexplored region using Western, impressionist brushstroke techniques. Mege mastered the essence of the Vietnamese jungle with his perfect use of dense color and vibrant light patterns.

Mes coups de coeur: 

Lot 3. Vase couvert en bronze, Hu, à décor incisé, patine vert de fouille, Vietnam, Période Han Viêt, Ier-IIIe siècle. Hauteur : 37 cm. Estimation : 2 000 € - 3 000 € €. Invendu. © Millon 

(Restauration).

Lot 12. Tête de Quan-Am en bronze à patine brune, Ecole des Arts appliqués de Biên Hòa, Vietnam, XXe siècle. Hauteur : 30 cm. Estimation : 2 000 € - 3 000 €. Résultat 1 900 €. © Millon

Quan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan) and Kanin (Bali), she is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness and mercy.

Lot 21. Buste de jeune enfant grimacant en bronze, Atelier de Nam Thai, Vietnam, XXe siècle. Hauteur : 46 cm. Estimation : 3 000 € - 4 000 €. Résultat 2 800 €. © Millon

Lot 40. Attribué à Nguyễn Phan Chánh (1892-1984), Jeune fille lavant des légumes. Paravent à trois feuilles en bois laqué polychrome. Non signé. 140 x 39 cm (feuille). Estimation : 40 000 € - 60 000 €. Résultat 32 000 €. © Millon

(Usures, oxydé et tâches )

Provenance: Collection privée Française.
D'une famille ayant vécu au Vietnam entre 1920 et 1940.
Provenant de la même collection, une peinture sur soie de Nguyễn Phan Chánh intitulée 'Sewing', vendue par Christie's le 26 Mai 2016, lot 323.

Nguyễn Phan Chánh (Vietnamese, 1892-1984), Sewing, signed and inscribed in Chinese (upper left & upper right), ink and gouache on silk, 65 x 50 cm. (25 5/8 x 19 5/8 in.) Painted in 1931, one seal of the artist. Estimate HKD 1,500,000 - HKD 2,000,000. Price realised HKD 2,680,000 at Christie's Hong Kong, 26 may 2016, lot 323. © Christie's Image Ltd 2016

Note: Originaire de la province de Ha Tinh, Nguyễn Phan Chánh (1892-1984) fut tout d'abord enseignant à l'école de Dong Ba (Hué) pour ensuite se convertir à la peinture.
C'est par l'intermédiaire de Victor Tardieu qu'en 1931, il présenta six œuvres à l'Exposition Coloniale à Paris, ce qui le révéla au grand public.

Parmi les œuvres exposées, l'une est à rapprocher du paravent présenté aujourd'hui: 'Jeune fille lavant des légumes'. Cette œuvre, alors vendue durant l'exposition sera publiée l'année suivante dans un article paru dans le très en vogue magazine de l'époque: 'L'illustration' avec trois autres œuvres de Phan Chánh. L'article écrit par Jean Tardieu, fils de Victor Tardieu, intitulé 'L'Art Annamite Moderne' avait pour objectif la promotion de l'art Annamite en Europe. (cf. illustration)

Peu ou aucune œuvre laquée de l'artiste sont connues sur le marché. Cette technique ayant été incluse au programme de formation de l'Ecole des Beaux Art de l'Indochine sous l'influence de Joseph Inguimberty, chacun des élèves devait s'y familiariser et notre œuvre aux traits et à l'ébauche parfaitement similaire au style de Nguyễn Phan Chánh suggère donc qu'elle puisse être l'un de ses rares essais à cette technique.

Provenance: Private collection, France
From a French family living in Vietnam between 1920 and 1940.
From the same collection, a silk painting by Phan Chanh, 'Sewing' sold by Christie's on the 26th of May 2016, lot 323.

Originally from the province of Ha Tinh, Nguyễn Phan Chánh was first a teacher at the Dong Ba school in Hué and only decided to embrace his career as a painter later.
In 1931 and under the guidance of Victor Tardieu, Phan Chanh became known to the public by presenting six of his works during the Paris Colonial Exhibition.

Among the exhibited works: 'Vegetable washing' depicts a very similar if not identical scene of a young lady squating, her hands in a bucket.
That painting was published in 1932 in the then famous french magazine 'L'illustration' along with three other works from Phan Chánh in an article written by Jean Tardieu, son of Victor, aiming to promote Annamese Art throughout Europe. (See Illustration of the magazine page)

Very few if any other lacquer works by Phan Chánh are known on the market. This technique was included in the program of the famous 'Ecole des Beaux Art de l'Indochine' by Joseph Inguimberty at the very beginning of the 30's, which suggests that students would have to be familiar with it. The traits and construction of the painting on this screen strongly suggests Nguyễn Phan Chánh style, it could then be one of his rare tryouts with this medium.

 Lot 44. Attribué à Nguyễn Sáng (1923-1988)?, Panthères et gazelles. Grand panneau en bois laqué, marques en idéogramme. 81 x 180 cm. Estimation : 4 000 € - 6 000 €. Résultat 4 000 €. © Millon

(légers éclats de laque)

Note: Un modèle identique conservé dans les collections du Musée Cernuschi et offert en donation par Monsieur Marcel Schneyder, fils de Thérèse et René Schneyder, haut fonctionnaire en Indochine de 1924 à 1951 fut exposé en 2018 à l'occasion de l'exposition temporaire: 'Vietnam: Nouvelles acquisitions'. Ce même panneau identique à celui présenté aujourd'hui est exposé en ce moment même au Musée départemental des Arts asiatiques de Nice à l'occasion de l'exposition 'Venez voir les animaux'.

Pour une peinture portant un idéogramme identique, voir vente Sotheby’s du 6 Octobre 2019, lot 247.

An identical panel with same signature and decor donated to the musee Cernuschi by Mr Marcel Schneyder, highly ranked official placed in indochina between 1924 and 1951. The panel was exhibited in 2018 during the 'Vietnam, new acquisitions' exhibition at the museum and is currently on display at the nice asian art museum on a temporary loan for the exhibition 'come see the animals'.

Lot 127. Coupe à pied à décor de style Ngoi bleu et blanc de rinceaux et fleurs de pivoines, Vietnam, XVe siècle. Hauteur : 9.5 cm Diamètre : 9 cm. Estimation : 2 000 € - 3 000 €. Résultat 1 500 €. © Millon

Note: Une coupe similaire dans la collection Nguyen Van Cu, hanoi, illustrée dans ‘Vietnamese blue and white ceramics, gốm hoa lam Việt Nam’ Bui Minh Tri-Kerry Nguyen Long. Social Science Publishing House. Hanoi 2001. P 331. fig.135.

Compare with a similar stemp cup in the Nguyen Van Cu collection, Hanoi, illustrated in ‘Vietnamese blue and white ceramics, gốm hoa lam Việt Nam’ Bui Minh Tri-Kerry Nguyen Long. Social Science Publishing House. Hanoi 2001. P. 331 Plate 135.

Lot 134. Bol en porcelaine à décor 'Bleu de Hué',  en bleu sous couverte à la base, Marque ‘Khánh xuân thị tả’ 慶春侍左 (« Eternel Printemps, palais de Gauche » en référence à la résidence des Trinh), Vietnam, XVIIIe siècle. Diamètre : 16 cm. Estimation : 30 000 € - 40 000 €. Résultat 85 000 €. © Millon 

Orné d’un dragon et de qilins parmi les nuages. Cerclage en métal au col.

Une assiette en porcelaine à décor similaire et marque identique dans la collection des Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Bruxelles. Inv. EO. 2738.
Pour une porcelaine à décor et marque similaire aux enchères, voir vente MILLON Asium du 14 Juin 2019, lot 680.

Compare with a similar decor and identical mark bowl kept in the collections of the ‘Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Bruxelles’. Accession number: EO. 2738.
Also, a similar dish sold in these room, sale MILLON Asium June 14, 2019. lot number 680. 

Lot 135. Assiette en porcelaine à décor bleu de Huê de qilin, Marque « Nội phủ thị đông » sous la base,Vietnam, XVIIIe siècle. Diamètre : 10.5 cm. Estimation : 2 000 € - 3 000 €. Résultat 8 500 €. © Millon 

(Fêle en étoile sous la base)