Item number: M211

Year: AD 1824-1945

The results after XRF testing

Material: Brass, Silver and Gold

Size: 77.8 x 45.3 x 0.3 mm

Weight: 20.8 g

Provenance: Beaussant Lefèvre 2024

This is a Bai, a type of merit plaque awarded during the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam. Like medals in Europe, these Bai plaques were given as rewards by the court in the East Asian region, with China at its core.

This Bai merit plaque was awarded to military personnel who demonstrated exceptional bravery in combat. The plaque is rectangular in shape, with a ruyi-shaped protrusion at the top for attaching decorative colourful tassells. The obverse centre is engraved with the Chinese characters “賞功” (Award for Merit), surrounded by a decorative border featuring a geometric pattern resembling the Chinese character “回” (hui).

The reverse side of the plaque shows an impression of the characters and patterns from the obverse side. Additionally, it features the Chinese characters “重五” (Chongwu) formed by a pattern of dots. “Chongwu” refers to the Double Fifth Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, which is one of Vietnam’s significant celebrations. This indicates that the plaque might have been awarded on the Dragon Boat Festival.

The ruyi-shaped protrusion at the top of the plaque is tied with a red hanging cord decorated with gold, red, and blue pom-poms. The other end of the cord is tied to an orange Chinese knot. Below the Chinese knot, three tassells hang, each adorned with a bead and coloured in blue, pink, and beige.

Vietnam has long been influenced culturally and politically by its northern neighbour, China, and adopted the use of Bai merit plaques similar to those prevalent in China as rewards or identity markers. According to historical records, the Nguyen Dynasty first awarded and used merit plaques during the reign of Emperor Gia Long. It was not until AD 1824, under the rule of his successor, Emperor Minh Mang, that the system of merit plaques was formalised.

Bai merit plaques often varied in size and material to indicate different levels of distinction. In addition to precious metals such as gold and silver, ivory and jade were also commonly used materials. The plaques were manufactured by the Ministry of Public Works and then presented by the Noi-Cac (Cabinet) in the name of the emperor. If the recipient held a high official position, the court would place the Bai on a gilded tray and deliver it personally to their residence, accompanied by a yellow parasol for ceremonial significance. In the latter half of the 19th century, as French influence in Vietnam increased, many French colonial officials and soldiers were also awarded merit plaques by the Nguyen Dynasty.

物件編號: M211

年代: 公元 1824-1945 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 黃銅, 銀和黃金

尺寸: 77.8 x 45.3 x 0.3 mm

重量: 20.8 g

來源: 博桑李費佛拍賣行 2024

這是一面越南阮朝時期頒發的功牌。功牌是中國為核心的東亞地區，朝廷作為獎勵所頒發的獎賞，性質和歐洲風行的獎章有異曲同工之妙。

這枚功牌是授予立下戰功的軍事人員。功牌外觀為長方形，頂端有一個如意形狀的凸起，用以銜接裝飾用的彩色流蘇。正面中央有鐫刻漢字「賞功」兩字，周圍則以酷似漢字「回」字的方形幾何圖案作為裝飾。

功牌的背面透印正面的文字和圖案，並且還有以圓點排列成的漢字「重五」，即是越南重要節慶之一的「端午節」，代表這枚功牌可能是在端午節當天頒發。

功牌的如意造型凸起部位，綁著一個以金色、紅色和青色彩球裝飾的紅色吊繩。吊繩的另一端綁一個橘色的中國結。中國結下方各垂釣一條有珠子裝飾的青色、粉紅色和米色流蘇。

越南長期在文化和政治上受到北方鄰居中國影響，也採納中國盛行的功牌作為獎賞或身分識別。根據文獻紀錄，阮朝最早是在嘉隆皇帝期間頒發和穿戴功牌。直到公元1824年，繼位的明命皇帝才對功牌進行制度化。

功牌常以大小和材質作為等級區別。金銀等貴金屬之外，象牙和玉也是常見的材料。功牌由工部製造，再交給內閣以皇帝的名義頒予受獎人。若受獎人具備高官身分，則朝廷會將功牌置於鍍金托盤，並且會打著一把黃色遮陽傘親自送至府上。公元19世紀後半葉，隨著法國逐漸增加在越南的影響力，也有許多法國殖民官員或官兵獲得阮朝頒發的功牌。