1. Origin and Emergence of Hue Enamelware
According to historical records, in the winter of the Đinh Hợi year (1827), Emperor Minh Mang (1820 – 1841) established the Pháp Lam Tượng Cục—a special agency dedicated to enamelware production. This agency, consisting of 15 artisans, was led by Vu Van Mai, a renowned painter from the Nội Tạo workshop (a department responsible for painting and decoration in the royal court).
Besides the enamelware workshop in Hue, the Nguyen Dynasty also established additional workshops in Ai Tu (Quang Tri) and Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) to produce enamelware for decorating royal palaces, mausoleums, and ritual objects. This marks 1827 as the official birth year of Hue enamelware in Vietnam.
2. Influence and Techniques of Hue Enamelware
Researchers suggest that the enamelware techniques of the Nguyen Dynasty were directly influenced by Guangdong, China. However, China was not the only country producing enamelware; nations such as England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Japan also developed enamel arts under different names.
According to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, Hue enamelware is classified into four types based on manufacturing and glazing techniques:
Guangdong was a famous enamelware center in ancient China, and its painted enamelware was introduced to Vietnam via Chinese merchant ships.
3. The Meaning Behind the Name "Pháp Lam"
The name Pháp lam in Vietnam has been a topic of much discussion among scholars. Around the world, enamelware is known by different names:
Many theories suggest that the Nguyen court changed the term from pháp lang to pháp lam to avoid overlapping with names in the royal family. Some believe that the Hue dialect does not differentiate between lang and lam, leading to the change. Another theory suggests that it was to avoid using the name of Lord Nguyen Phuc Lan or Empress Tong Thi Lan (wife of Emperor Gia Long).
Another explanation is that "pháp" means rules or laws, while "lam" refers to the blue enamel color, implying that pháp lam refers to enamel-coated metal objects crafted under strict artistic principles.
4. The Rise and Decline of Hue Enamelware
The craft of Hue enamelware lasted only about 60 years (1827 – 1888), whereas Chinese falang craftsmanship thrived for over 700 years. As a result, in terms of shaping, glazing, color mixing, decoration, and firing techniques, Hue enamelware was inferior to its Chinese counterpart.
Hue enamelware was not widely used among commoners but was primarily reserved for the Nguyen royal court. After 1945, the number of remaining Hue enamel artifacts became scarce, and the craftsmanship was lost. Despite various restoration efforts, traditional Hue enamelware has yet to be fully revived.
5. Unique Characteristics of Hue Enamelware
Hue enamelware flourished under the reigns of Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc, when the Nguyen Dynasty was at its peak. Hue artisans developed distinct color-coordination techniques that helped enamelware withstand the harsh climate of Central Vietnam.
Hue enamelware was used to decorate the exteriors of imperial buildings and temples, including:
Common decorative motifs included dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and poetry, with traditional colors such as purple, red, blue, and yellow. Besides royal architecture, Hue enamelware was also used for household items, ritual objects, and souvenirs, such as bowls, plates, incense burners, and vases.
Artifacts preserved at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum indicate that Nguyen Dynasty enamelware had a unique identity, distinct from Ming and Qing Dynasty enamelware of China. This distinction highlights the exceptional skills of Vietnamese artisans and affirms Hue enamelware's historical and artistic value.
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Members, Pháp lam Huế (Hue enamelware) stands out as a particularly unique form of tangible heritage. Pháp lam (also known as pháp lang – falang, 琺瑯) is an enamelware product made of a copper base coated with enamel, originating from Central Asia. The craft flourished through five Nguyen emperors, leaving behind exquisite artistic values.){kind=link}