VietNamNet Bridge – To get rich, it does not necessarily require people to spend a lot of time. With luck, it can be one, two or three years. For antiques collectors, to get rich in their own sense, it may take a lifetime.

Antique collector Nguyen Van Pham is next to a bronze statue of late general Tran Hung Dao and many other antiques dating back to the Tran Dynasty

Nguyen Van Pham, vice chairman of the HCMC Association of Antiques, understands this well.

“People seldom amass a big collection of antiques in a short span of time; many have to spend a half or a whole life to collect them,” says Pham, an antique collector for over 23 years. Lucks and efforts alone do not suffice, as antiques collectors must also have strong passion, the man explains the way for him to own thousands of antiques now.

Like a predetermined destiny, Pham in 1992 happened to see and purchase a copper seal of the Tay Son heroes as the first kings of the Nguyen Dynasty dating back to the 18th century from a street vendor in his hometown of Binh Dinh Province, an event that ushered in his passion for antiques. Since then, he has often made journeys throughout the country to rummage for seals – vestiges of regimes and power of kings and mandarins in the past feudal time.

Pham is now renowned for the collection of more than 300 seals made from bronze, gold or gems dating back to Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties.

“Each seal symbolizes different posts of authorities. But seals not only show the power of the owners but also are historical proofs for national sovereignty and political systems of our ancestors,” says Pham.

Nevertheless, seals are just a small part of a huge property of this collector. Pham is also owner of thousands of other antiques, from Dong Son drums, stone jewelries and farming tools dating back to 2,000 B.C. to Champa statues, and bronze and ceramic artifacts from Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties.

“Collecting antiques requires people to have not only a profound love and passion but also a good knowledge of history, culture, arts and geography as well,” Pham explains, adding that each antique is associated with a historical event, a civilization, a human fate and a time relic. Therefore, the prior condition for an antique collector is knowledge coupled with a good sense with distinct eyes.

“People often say in the world of antiques, especially in our country when the antique market has not been developed professionally, advantage belongs to wise men while unsound minds often bear drawbacks,” Pham comments. He judges that a person needs at least ten years to be able to figure out what antique is real and what is fake.

Therefore, in journeys to look for antiques, Pham has spent a lot of time to research historical documents, read many history and culture books, learn about geography and characteristics of each region and features of materials. He also often goes to museums and exhibitions to look for antiques and exchange with other collectors.

“A collector needs to practice their eyes as much as he can until his eyes can tell an authentic antique from fake ones,” he remarks.

His antiques have been exhibited many times for the public in many museums and places nationwide.

“I focus on Vietnamese culture so all my antiques present the beauty and vestiges of Vietnamese history and civilizations. Antiques are not only material assets but also a huge spiritual property for later generations,” says Pham.

Although antiques are often expensive objects but Pham says that sometimes antiques cannot be bought with money, but also by love and patience of the collector. He explains that a lot of his antiques have been collected successfully after many visits and negotiations.

“If you just care about fame as you think you have a lot of money, do not chase down antiques as antiques need an erudite and devoted mind,” he gives his advice.

Source: SGT