Imperial seal of Nguyen Dynasty expected to be repatriated soon
Since October 2022, competent agencies have taken measures through cultural diplomacy, collected legal documents and negotiated in an effort to bring home a golden imperial seal dating back to 1823 from France, heard a press conference in Hanoi on October 9.
At the regular press conference held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Since October 2022, competentagencies have taken measures through cultural diplomacy, collected legaldocuments and negotiated in an effort to bring home a golden imperial seal datingback to 1823 from France, heard a press conference in Hanoi on October 9.
Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage LeThi Thu Hien said at the regular press conference, held by the Ministry ofCulture, Sports and Tourism, that the Vietnamese side has been working tocomplete relevant legal procedures for the repatriation of the imperial seal.
After the work is done, scheduled for late October,the French side will hand over the seal to Vietnam, she added.
On October 19, 2022, Paris-based auction house Millonannounced that it will auction 329 antiquities, including two dating back tothe Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945) – a golden seal made in 1823 under the reignof King Minh Mang (1820 - 1841) and a golden bowl made under the reign of KingKhai Dinh (1917 - 1925).
On the basis of collected evidence, verificationthrough Millon-published information and images, and comparison with somegolden seals of the Nguyen Dynasty being kept at some Vietnamese museums andrelic sites, the seal supposed to be auctioned is confirmed to be “Hoang de chibao” (Treasure of The Emperor) cast in 1823 under the reign of King Minh Mang.
After negotiation efforts, the Vietnameserepresentative and Millon reached an agreement on deferring the auction of theseal at 7:30am on October 31, 2022 (Paris time). At 10:10am the same day, theauction house issued an official statement about the removal of the item fromthe list of antiquities to be auctioned./.
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At the regular press conference held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (Photo: VNA) 
