Overview of Huế painted Enamel and its new perception on the Nguyễn Dynasty.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
OVERVIEW OF HUẾ PAINTED ENAMEL AND ITS NEW PERCEPTION
ON THE NGUYỄN DYNASTY
Among the cultural heritage of the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802-1945) in Huế Ancient Capital, the most prominent was pháp lam Huế (Huế painted enamels). Pháp lam Huế is architectural, pottery and art materal with copper core body coated with layers of enamels in different colors; due to their ability to withstand external forces of warming and rain and passing time, these enamels were used to decorate the rooftops and ridges of the royal palaces. They also appear in decorative panels depicting scenery, flowers and trees, birds and literary works on wall panels between the upper and the lower roofs of palaces, or on gates in royal palaces and tombs of the Nguyễn Kings in Huế.
The study of pháp lam Huế has been carried out over the past 40 years, researchers have yet to agree on a number of issues such as: What kind of technique does pháp lam Huế belong to? Is it called pháp lam or pháp lang? Even the question whether pháp lam Huế were manufactured in Huế, Vietnam, or elsewhere in Asia remains controversial.
From new sources collected, combined with research on enamels in museums and private collections in Europe and China, the author gives general comments and its new explication.