TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN BIEN HOA CERAMICS, VIETNAM

20-03-2019

Bien Hoa ceramics developed from the Cay Mai style of ceramics, when ceramic artisans from Saigon moved out of the rapidly urbanizing city and were influenced by ceramic makes in Bien Hoa, who’d been operating there since at least the late 17th century. The Bien Hoa Vocational School was founded in 1903, and later renamed the Bien Hoa School of Indigenous Arts. It was the predecessor of today’s Dong Nai Fine and Decorative Arts College.

In 1923, a French couple were appointed to manage the school: Mr.Robert Balick as principal and Mrs.Mariette Balick as the dean of the ceramics faculty. This was a turning point for Bien Hoa ceramics, as the Balicks helped to modify the styles and ceramics. Upon discovering that European anamed did not take to the rough surface of Bien Hoa products, the Balicks oversaw the creation of a unique enamel that became iconic of this school. The multicolored anamed was made from straw ash, wood ash, rice husk ash, glass shards, copper rust, Danang sands and Bien Hoa laterite, which notably included a signature green copper enamed (vert de Bien Hoa). Thanks to the Balick’s contributions, Bien Hoa ceramics became words of graphic arts rather than just craft items.
Between 1923 through the 1960s, Bien Hoa ceramics hit artistic heights due to the combined influences of French Limoges ceramics, the artistry and zeal of Mrs. Balick; Chaozhou, Guangdong and Fujian ceramics, introduced by ethnic Chinese artisan in Vietnam; and locad Champa ceramics. During these years, Bien Hoa ceramics were carried around the world and won many prestigious international awards, including gold medals in 1925 and 1933 at the Paris International Exhibition.
As well as household items like jars, vases, pots, etc., mass-produced for consumers in Vietnam’s Southeastern and Southwestern provinces, Bien Hoa ceramics included highly artistic words such as figurines, reliefs, pots, vases, lanterns and decorative plates. The decorations were quite unusual. Craftsmen reated reliefs and poked holes in the surface. Sometimes they sketched lines with sticks to prevent the enamel from blurring the decorative patterns. These techniques helped highlight the patterns, add lively three-dimensional effects and bring the ceramics closer in style to th ceramic jars of the Tran Dynasty, particularly the brown enamel wares that were popular 700 years ago.

Large numbers of flowers were key motifs in Bien Hoa ceramic. The design “A hundred flowers” included ochna, orchid, chrysanthemum, lotus sunflower and hibiscus blooms. Decorative motifs of dragons, phoenixes and qilin were also prevalent. A signature motif were leaf-shaped dragons coiled around the pot with various dragons intertwined. The background curves of these dragons were embossed. These products were painted in copper and ivory white enamel. Elephant motifs were also popular on low enamelled stools. Other images on pots and reliefs included shrimps, fish, storks, spurce trees, people going about their daily routines, weddings, dancers, playing chirlden and scenes from folk tales. Portrayals of national heroes were also popular.

Ceramic experts assume that Bien Hoa ceramics were influenced by ceramics were influenced by ceramic crafting techniques used by Champa people in the ancient pottery workshop of Go Sanh (Binh Dinh). Champa decorative patterns may be found on Bien Hoa ceramics, such as gods like Vishnu and Silva.
Some of the most recognizable images in Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic Ben Thanh Market hail from Bien Hoa. In 1952, four bas reliefs were commissioned from the Bien Hoa School of Indigenous Arts to decorate the market’s four entrances. These lively reliefs remain intact and portray goods sold at the market, such as pigs, ducks and bunches of bananas.
Today, many Bien Hoa ceramics are prized by antique collectors. The ceramic school continues to evolve. Furnaces still blaze in the communes of Hoa An, Vu Hoa, Tan Van and Tan Hanh to the south of Bien Hoa city. Hundreds of ceramic businesses produce wares that are sold nationwide and exported around the world.