Several items in the ceramic collection showcased at Bac Giang provincial Museum.

Tho Ha ceramic is distinguished for its natural skin without any type of enamel. Its diverse colors of brown, dark brown, dark yellow, puce and brick red are made by the heated process under high temperature. The product is ideally suitable to contain any kind of liquid or solid materials without the risk of absorbance or fungus affection respectively. Also, it sounds firmly and sharply when being knocked.

Tho Ha ceramic collection in Bac Giang museum showcases several housewares and construction materials featuring the simplicity and elegance that are close to the normal life. Besides, there are delicate items with a high taste of aesthetics like the fine ornaments subtly carved or hand incised with special patterns of Four Holy Beasts, including Long (the Dragon), Lan (the Qilin), Quy (the Turtle) and Phung (the Fenghuang), tiger-faced design, small lion and a connection of Long ma (a holy beast has dragon head and horse body) and lotus. Additionally, the textures of plantain leaves, the lemon flower among others were used to decorate the beautiful valances.

The lotus is a popular topic on Tho Ha traditional ceramic, used to shape and decorate in many items like the unique feature of the lotus-shaped incense burner.

The old ceramic jars in the collection.

These items belong to different ages from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, mostly including housewares (flower vase, pot, jar, terracotta jar, incense burner and so on) of dark brown, strong shape and simple carving that features the typical identity of Tho Ha ceramic.

Each decoration and pattern in the artwork indicates the standard in layout shaping, balancing and harmonizing as well as the softness and delicate in the individual detail.

Via the items collected and exhibited by Bac Giang provincial museum, the visitors have an opportunity to admire the exquisite talent and skillful hand of the craftsmen in the old ceramic village which used to present and brilliantly develop in the local for centuries.

Quan Thi Thu