Bronze casting in old Saigon Vietnam

Saigon is a bronze casting craft folk. If you omit the existence of a bronze casting of the natives, the bronze casting of the Vietnamese may have appeared since the first generation to open land - With the demand for weapons and items students work ... And, increasingly supplemented by the development of later migration waves. Throughout the history of Vietnam, from time to time Phung Nguyen Dong Son, through the North of autonomy until the end of time, never missing a large center casting on the ground in Vietnam, the objects are retained are very rich in number, unique styles, designs.
 XVIII century, in old Saigon Vietnam has gradually formed a specialized area of ​​bronze casting. The area is earliest areas Cho Quan (now part of District 5) with 3 Tan Kieng ancient village, Nhan Binh Giang and Yen. The artisans are now casting immigrant workers from the ward in Quy Nhon on. They quickly gathered and cast into the village craftsmen produce goods such as copper pots, copper pans, copper boxes, incense burners, candlestick ... are all popular.

 
Next to the Tan Hoa Dong area (now part of District 6) specializes in the manufacture of Quality, and cook the lamp into ingots. One of the most outstanding works is the region's children have been cast in this series from the last century. Unfortunately, the artists in Tan Hoa Dong unknown ancestors come from.
In addition there are two areas on the two other regions known for bronze casting in Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam:
- Thuan Kieu Area (Hoc Mon), from the nineteenth century has been known for casting incense hereditary. OO is the second production model Quality: Lu north (top bass) and travel south (incense burners), special training also produces the super bowl and collect the weapons. Line workers in this area are mainly descendants of central casting workers have set up business here from many generations.
- Area "The West Assembly" (Go Vap) long and is home to many craft of bronze casting furnace. Product incense "The West Assembly" quite common. According to some older artists, the casting was bequeathed by his father.
Early twentieth century, Fine Arts School in Thu Dau Mot and Bien Hoa Fine Arts was established, contributing to the manufacturing sector since the copper handicrafts. Students are mostly local in Saigon. Product of the artisan training school mainly as the head women the South, Central, Northern and quite interesting phenomenon known ...
In the mid-twentieth century, some families in Ngu Xa (Hanoi) to settle in the Hoa Hung (Saigon Vietnam) carrying three bronze casting extra gas, forming a small local neighborhood gas tam casting here . Their work is carefully cast in bronze and three gas (gold, silver, copper) to the Bronze Age it. Their products are of the primary gods and other appliances, but born after calving late, but they hold the exclusive rights of production, the skilled, beautiful products to the gas tam Hoa Hung is widely speak order.

We can say, bronze casting in old Saigon has a yellow ball. Its products are diverse, ranging from home appliances to worshiping such as pots, trays, pans, green, betel boxes, Quality, leg lamps, incense bowl, vase, statue, statues, people, the animals, bathing gas, super-trained ... almost bronze casting in old Saigon was quite sufficient to meet the needs of the use of local residents.
Regarding the organization of production, long in old Saigon-style production that form the family unit. In the family, the father or grandfather often act as foreman, the children, your grandchildren are the preferred workers for paternal and maternal relatives, where they really need to hire people outside the family. Casting the time the means of livelihood of the family should keep their best professional secret. Where the cook at work as much as they re-cast the exchange of each other, ensuring the technology has kept professional secret.
As usual, the December 25 annual lunar day of bronze casting in Tan Hoa Dong. On this day, as well as on adjacent Tet, foreman, worker you assembles, cleaning supplies, offering glasses, eating together and wait for the lunar new year holidays offer the producers.
Technically, in general the same area in old Saigon Vietnam cast have done a similar three stages: Stage molding; of the cast and finally cooled stage. Particularly need eight bronze casting gas must also add that further stages: three stages of processing and gas separation stages and eight extra gas and dye polishing stage products.
It can be said bronze casting craft in old Saigon is a profession with high technology. The foreman who must know a lot of knowledge, to grasp the whole process on the copper from the mixing of raw materials to the mold, the casting, to touch (touch the sink, embossed, colorful touch or care if the three gas lines). They even have more sub paintings, sculpture, clay statues, jewelry ... This does not include to have the eyes of an industrial design to create ...