A Buddha statue, insured at US$6 million, is now exhibited at the Oc Eo and Champa cultural exhibition rooms at the Vietnam History Museum in HCM City.
The Dong Duong Buddha statue, insured at US$6 million.
The 1.2m high statue, named Dong Duong, is among the rarest and most famous antiques in the world. This statue was made around the 8th or 9th century. It was discovered in the central province of Quang Nam. This antique is also praised for its artistic values.
Dr. Ba Trung Phu from the Vietnam History Museum said that the Dong Duong Buddha statue is unique in style.
Besides this statue, the newly-opened Oc Eo and Champa cultural exhibition room has many other special antiques of the Champa culture, including the Devi goddess statue of the 10th century, which is insured at $1.5-$2 million.
There’s also the Siva head made of silver and gold in the 7th and 8th centuries, which are very rare because there are only four Siva heads in the world, in Vietnam, Belgium, Austria and the US.
Antiques belonging to the Oc Eo culture are mainly collected from An Giang and Southwestern provinces, and date back to between the 2nd and 7th centuries. Among them are many wood Buddha statues which are the oldest in Southeast Asia and many goddess and genie statues made of stone.
Two new exhibition rooms are designed to international standards with special lighting equipment. Antiques are protected in special glass boxes.
The half-length statue of Devi Goddess.
One of the four Siva heads in the world.
The wood Buddha statues which are the oldest in Southeast Asia.
The statue of a Goddess in Oc Eo culture.
Jewelries of the Oc Eo culture is the same as Japanese modern stone-made jewelries.
The hat of Siva God made of gold, silver and violet quaztz.
The unique altar of nine gods (Navagraha) of the Champa culture, which was made in the 10th century, discovered in Quang Nam province.
Amulets of the Oc Eo culture.
