A catholic priest in Ho Chi Minh City is well-known among local antique collectors his 1,300 ancient kerosene lamps, including one that dates back to the Dong Son are.
Small room inside Tan Sa Chau Church in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Binh District contains hundreds of kerosene lamps in different designs and decorations, with each being a part of history.
Father Nguyen Huu Triet is already in his 60s but still gets excited when hears about a kerosene lamp being found or sold somewhere in the north, thousands of kilometers away from his home.
The old man’s passion for lamps originated in his childhood, when he noticed how his father, who was a teacher and a doctor of traditional medicine, treasured and enamel tea set and a Chinese farmer’s pipe. They were the family’s only valuable possessions.
His father only brought out the two antiques when guests came to visit, so that everyone admires them. At the time, Father Triet wasn’t aware of the value of the antiques, but they piqued his curiosity.
He inherited dozens of old lamps from the previous parish priest at Tan Sa Chau and cherished the memories of his father, he found a desire to collect old lamp, as way preserving the past. They also provide light. Father Triet explained; a type if light that counters darkness and evil. The lamps have stood the test of time.
But it’s not just about light. Father said that each has a story to tell. Some he bought from antique shop in Ho Chi Minh City or from scrap iron dealers in the northern or central regions. Only by accident did he come across one ancient pottery lamp from the Dong Son era, while hunting for another.
Some old lamps took him three or four years to find. In his collection, which includes lamps from France, Germany, the Us, Japan and China, the most valuable are from Vietnam. Minus the intricate designs of those from other countries, the ancient Vietnamese lamps, with their rough and unpolished surface, still intrigue him the most.
His collection includes one that was slightly damaged after being excavated by local, one that has a peacock handle and the ethnic Cham people from the 10th – 12th centuries.
There is also a 1.5 –meter tall lamp from India that has five wicks, and one from France that holds 7.5 liters of oil. Most of the lamps use peanut oil, kerosene or animal fat.
Nearly 20 years after he began his collection, Father Triet believes life is like a lamp. The lights will extinguish at one point, so it’s better to live life to the fullest white the flame still flickers.
He will donate his lamps to the catholic association when ha passes. “I want to preserve them for the next generation,” he said. “After I die, the lamps will continue to live on.”
This article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel
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