A touch of modernity: Vietnamese bronzes at the turn of the 20th century
Focus exhibition in the Buddha room until September 6, 2026.
As part of the Vietnamese summer festival, the Cernuschi Museum is offering, on the occasion of...a Focus exhibitionto discover a selection of Vietnamese incense burners and decorative bronze objects from the museum's collections. To extend the visit, the museum invites the public to a clash works (drawings, paintings and sculptures) by Hàm Nghi, emperor deposed by the French colonial authorities, who found refuge in artistic practice.
Ritual use of bronze incense burners
The use of bronze incense burners has been widespread throughout East Asia since ancient times to pay homage to the deceased or to deities. In Vietnam, they are placed on the ancestral altar erected in the house. The size of the incense burners varies according to the importance and wealth of each family. In Buddhist, Taoist, or Confucian temples, Large incense burners welcome worshippers in the courtyardThe smaller bronzes were placed directly on the ground, while the medium-sized ones were placed on altars inside buildings. From the late 19th century onwards, French rule over Indochina led to an intensification of trade, and elements specific to European stylistic vocabulary were incorporated by Vietnamese bronze workers.
