- 13/04/2020
Built by the French in 1898, White Palace served as a holiday resort for colonial administrators in French Indochina. The original name was Villa Blanche after Blanche Richel Doumer, daughter of Paul Doumer, French Indochina Governor-General from 1897 to 1902. Doumer in Hanoi is renowned for the design of French-style buildings.
The villa had been named 'Bach Dinh' or 'Silver Palace' by locals because of its striking silver exterior. Situated on a hill, it has three floors and is 19 meters tall and 420 sq.m in area. The bricks, white paint, and red-tiled roof represent European architecture of the 19th century.
The first floor has an opulent stateroom and display space for objects recovered from the Lorcha wreck off Hon Cau Island in Con Dao in 1990, 80 km from the center of Vung Tau.
The Vung Tau government saved 68,000 objects over two years, including ceramics, china, bronze pieces, weapons, and copper coins produced during the Qing Dynasty period by the end of the 17th and early 18th centuries. The finds have been collected and distributed to various national museums, and those at White Palace can be found here.
About 28,000 products sold for $6.7 million on the international market.
Fine china, blue and white ceramic crockery, pots, vases, pen holders, bowls, and plates made during Emperor Kangxi's reign in Jingdezhen, Shantou, and Dua Hoa (ruling 1661-1722). The pieces remain intact and complex 3 centuries later.
The ceramic designs borrow images from traditional Chinese paintings such as the yellow mai flower, orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo flower, folklore scenes and legends such as horseback archers.
Artifacts made of stone found in the sunken ship at White Palace are contained in a display case. Among these stands an intricately carved stone statue of Cundi.
The 300-year-old ceramic glazed figures show no signs of age.
But a pot that is on show dating back to Emperor Kangxi's period is battered and even has a few holes
Also saved were coins, ink holders, stone stamps, and a bronze mirror belonging to sailors on board the vessel.
A stone mill located in perfect condition offers a peek into the ship's sailor life.
Also on view are damaged earthenware items and other delicate artefacts. White Palace was listed as a national icon in 1992. Ticket entry is VND15,000 ($0.64) per person.
Source : https://bit.ly/2JWIeuO