Rating and value of Hue porcelain from Vietnam

If you own a piece of Vietnamese porcelain, or are thinking of owning one, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will work to carry out a free appraisal of your piece, and provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your piece, we will direct you to the best possible device to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of Vietnamese porcelain cookies   

Vietnamese porcelain known and appreciated throughout Europe. It is particularly famous for Hué blue. Today, the price of certain pieces continues to rise under the auctioneers' hammer.

Vietnamese porcelain works are highly prized, particularly by French buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €489,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to these porcelains.

 In 2021, a lot of three blue and white porcelain bowls with dragon and phoenix decoration marked " Ni Ph Th Trung " was sold for €127,000, whereas it was estimated at between €300 and €500.

Ranging in value from a simple porcelain to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Vietnamese porcelain cookies   

The history of Huế porcelain cookies has its roots in the Imperial region of Huế, in Vietnam, known for its refined heritage in porcelain production.

Inspired by Chinese craft techniques, particularly those of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Vietnamese artisans adapt these influences to create a unique style, marked by distinctive patterns and a subtle color palette.

This harmonious blend of Chinese and Vietnamese elements lends these porcelain cookies an unrivalled elegance, symbolizing both power and nobility.

The manufacturing process for these cookies is the fruit of remarkable technical virtuosity. Starting with a fine, white paste, the craftsmen meticulously shape each piece by hand.

The initial firing, at a temperature of around 1300 degrees Celsius, ensures the porcelain's incomparable hardness and brilliance. After this initial stage, the pieces are decorated with intricate patterns depicting landscapes, flowers, birds, as well as Vietnamese cultural symbols such as dragons and phoenixes.

These decorations, often made with glazes or hand-applied paints, require a second firing to fix the colors and accentuate the depth of the motifs.

Huế porcelain cookie production, although flourishing during the Nguyễn dynasty, today symbolizes a rich cultural heritage.

Huế craftsmanship is distinguished not only by the exceptional quality of its creations, but also by the ability of its artisans to preserve and enrich a centuries-old artistic tradition.

Through these objects, which combine aesthetic beauty and technical mastery, the history of a refined art, rooted in Vietnamese culture and celebrated for its timeless elegance, is perpetuated.

Thus, Huế's porcelain cookies are not simply decorative objects, but true works of art that continue to fascinate and inspire with their delicacy and symbolic depth, bearing witness to a cultural and artistic heritage that has endured through the ages.

History of Huế porcelain

The history of Huế porcelain, also known as "Pháp Lam porcelain", has its origins in the Nguyễn dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This dynasty, the last to rule the country, chose Huế as its capital, a city located in central Vietnam.

Under the Nguyễn reign, Huế became not only the seat of political power, but also a leading cultural and artistic center, where porcelain played a prominent role. 

Inspired by Chinese influence, the early Nguyễn emperors, aspiring to rival China's imperial courts, initiated local production of high-quality porcelain. It is thus different from Chinese porcelain, that of Japan or European manufactures such as Meissen and Sèvres.

To achieve this, they brought Chinese craftsmen to Vietnam, asking them to pass on their know-how while adapting the techniques to the peculiarities of Vietnamese culture.

Thus, in the early 19th century, Huế established itself as a renowned porcelain production center, creating objects for the imperial court, as well as for religious and diplomatic purposes.

Huế porcelain is distinguished by its finesse, brilliance and the delicacy of its decorative motifs.

Pieces such as vases, bowls, plates and funerary urns feature nature-inspired motifs such as flowers, birds and landscapes, complemented by traditional Vietnamese symbols such as dragons, phoenixes and Chinese characters expressing wishes for prosperity and longevity.

Among the colors used, cobalt blue, imported from China, is particularly appreciated for its deep shades, although red, yellow and other hues are also prized.

A technique emblematic of this porcelain is "Pháp Lam", a glazing process that involves applying colored enamels to a porcelain base, before firing the whole at high temperature.

This process, though complex, creates vibrant contrasts and imparts a unique depth to the designs.

In the early 20th century, Huế porcelain production declined, due to the end of the Nguyễn dynasty and the French colonization of Vietnam.

However, the legacy of this craft lives on through pieces preserved in museums or private collections, bearing witness to the refinement and artistic sophistication of the Huế imperial court.

Today, Huế porcelain is celebrated as a symbol of Vietnamese cultural heritage, and efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize this traditional art, enabling new generations to discover and appreciate this precious testimony to a glorious past.

The auction market value of Vietnamese porcelains

The success of Vietnamese porcelains at auction is undeniable. Huế pieces, particularly those produced under the Nguyễn dynasty, attract the attention of collectors from all over the world.

Their value on the market depends on the state of preservation, age and signature of the craftsman. Works made for the Imperial Court are particularly prized, due to their finesse, brilliance and rich motifs.

Huế porcelain biscuits, adorned with delicate motifs and using sophisticated techniques such as Pháp Lam, are distinguished by their exceptional artistic quality. Neoclassical pieces, although slightly less highly priced, also find their way into auctions, especially those signed by renowned craftsmen.

In addition, contemporary creations, inspired by this heritage, are enjoying growing success on the art market. Modern artists revisiting traditional Vietnamese porcelain techniques bring a new dimension to this art, adding to its value and appeal to bidders.

Why sell your Vietnamese porcelain at auction ?

Auctions are an excellent way to sell your Vietnam porcelain because this framework offers you a competitiveness between buyers that is impossible to obtain via online sales or through a dealer. 

Furthermore, an appraisal by a specialist in the field is included in the appraisal. Your object is put on display at the Hôtel Drouot after being catalogued and appraised down to the last detail. This makes it possible to find information you may not have known about the date and provenance of your porcelain. 

Trusting us with your object relieves you of all responsibility for putting it up for sale : your porcelain is photographed by a professional and all the communication necessary to reach future bidders is implemented.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a piece of Vietnamese porcelain, or think you do, don't hesitate to request a free valuation using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and chartered auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as ad hoc information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account the inclinations of the market.