TTO – After negotiations, Vietnam and the Millon Auction House have agreed to transfer the golden seal ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ to Vietnam in the spirit of consensus, understanding and the friendly cooperation relationship between the two sides, Vietnam and France.
This is the latest information that has just been announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the evening of November 14.
It is said that in the case of repatriation of the ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ gold seal, determining the solution through cultural diplomacy, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has presided over the cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies, to develop a plan to repatriate the golden seal and organize an interdisciplinary working group led by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, negotiated directly with Millon, France, to implement the step in the golden seal repatriation route.
The delegation has just returned to Vietnam today, November 14.
During their stay in France, the delegation conducted research and assessed the condition and authenticity of the gold seal ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ which is currently kept at the Millon Office (No. 19 rue de la Grange-Bateliere, Paris, France).
According to the results of research and comparison of documents, the delegation determined that this gold seal currently for sale at Millon Auction House is an original and accurate artifact, cast in the 4th year of Minh Menh (1823) as recorded in the history books (Dai Nam Thuc Luc, Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le) and in the reports, the image of handing over the sword and the seal of the French government to the Head of State Bao Dai on March 8, 1952 currently kept at the National Archives Center I.
The golden seal ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ has many similarities with the two gold seals ‘Sắc mệnh chi bảo’ and ‘Hoàng đế tôn thân chi bảo’ which are currently kept at the Vietnam National Museum of History.
All three gold seals are cast in 10-year-old gold, crafted according to the same form with square seal face, two-level back, meandering dragon strap, dragon forehead engraved with the word Vương [King], dragon legs with five claws. The size and weight of the three golden seals are also similar.
This is a form of seal that has never appeared in previous dynasties or countries in the region as well as in the world…
Based on the results of determining the authenticity of the golden seal, the two sides agreed to transfer the golden seal ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ to Vietnam in the spirit of consensus, understanding and the friendly cooperation relationship between the two sides, Vietnam and France.
The two sides also agreed to jointly implement the relevant legal process and procedures to be able to repatriate the golden seal to Vietnam in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and France.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that soon it will continue to make efforts with relevant ministries, agencies, organizations and individuals to coordinate with Millon Auction Company to carry out the roadmap of procedures for repatriation of the ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ gold seal to Vietnam as soon as possible, ensuring the legal regulations of the two countries.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism assessed that the repatriation of the gold seal ‘Hoàng đế chi bảo’ not only to supplement and complete the collection of lost antiquities, treasures and cultural heritages that lost, ‘bled’ abroad, but also affirming the correctness, the prerequisite of our Party and State on the point of view of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage, meeting the increasing needs to enjoy culture of the people, raising the national self-esteem of the young generation in the international arena…
