The person who "resurrects" antiques

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Under the small porch of the antique restoration workshop in Hac Thanh ward, artisan Tran Van Thanh quietly takes care of every detail of the antiques every day. He is nearly seventy years old, his hands are rough with time, but his eyes always shine with passion and aspiration to preserve the cultural heritage values of his homeland and nation.

Artisan Tran Van Thanh diligently restores antiques. Photo: Le Anh

Artisan Tran Van Thanh has been involved with antiques since around 2004. He shared that, over the past twenty years, he has devoted all his time and passion to receiving and restoring hundreds of rusty and crumbling antiques, including some that seemed beyond saving. Many artifacts dating back more than 2,000 years, after passing through his hands, gradually returned to their original form, the patterns becoming more prominent under the warm light. “Doing this job requires dedication and virtue. Not only do I research documents and history, but I also regularly visit museums in the country to learn. When restoring any antique, I always struggle with each crack over time. It feels like I am returning to past historical stories,” said Mr. Thanh. For him, the work is not simply a technique but also a dialogue between the present and the past, between the individual soul and the history of the homeland and country.

He began his journey of learning about antiques by learning pottery making techniques, bronze casting techniques, manual restoration techniques through books, documents... and even from senior artisans in the profession. Without formal training, but thanks to his perseverance and passion, Mr. Thanh quickly became a well-known name in the antiques community in Thanh Hoa . In particular, he is famous for his ability to restore bronze artifacts, mainly from the Dong Son Culture period, discovered in relic-rich areas in the province.

Entering Mr. Thanh's workspace makes one feel as if they are entering a "scrap iron and steel" workshop rather than an antique restoration workshop. Currently, his workshop is preserving hundreds of antiques, both intact and in the process of restoration. Everywhere are pieces of cracked pottery, dark metal, rusty patches... He gently lifted them up for us to see each corner of a bronze jar from the Dong Son culture, all of which have turned green and are almost half corroded. After a moment of silence, he said: "Each antique is a story. When restoring, we seem to hear the story told by the artifact, and to trace it back to the hands of the ancient craftsman who painted the motifs. The restorer must first respect the original. Only enough should be done to keep the artifact in its original shape and spirit as when it was created." That feeling makes each artifact restored by Mr. Thanh more vivid and emotional than ever.

According to him, the most difficult thing in restoration is to “read” the object, understand the material, artistic style, function and historical period of the item. Many times, just a small deviation or using the wrong proportion of adhesive will lead to failure of the entire restoration process. There are objects that take him several months, even years to complete, but he has never been impatient or given up. To him, antiques are a witness to history, carrying the voice of time and the soul of the nation. He shared: “I did not get rich thanks to antiques. What I get in return is joy, the feeling of contributing to preserving cultural heritage.”

Mr. Thanh's dedication is highly appreciated by the Thanh Hoa Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Association. Mr. Ho Quang Son, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Association, said: "Over the years, Mr. Thanh has been an active member of the association, and has also participated in the restoration of antiquities for a number of domestic museums such as: Hoa Binh Provincial Museum (now Phu Tho Province), Dak Lak Provincial Museum... Artisan Thanh is one of the very few people in the locality who both has manual restoration skills and a deep understanding of the cultural value of artifacts. Artisan Thanh's contributions have inspired the association's members, while also arousing respect and connection with the history of the homeland in the community."

In an era where people easily chase after material values and convenience, the story of artisan Tran Van Thanh is a clear proof that there are still silent people who are contributing to preserving and conserving the national cultural identity with their own passion. They are not noisy, do not advertise loudly, but their work is like a smoldering fire - warm enough to illuminate memories and fuel the future.

Le Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-hoi-sinh-co-vat-256959.htm