Pham Hau (1903–1995): Vietnamese lacquer box
- Cabinet Gauchet Art Asiatique
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
The absolute master of modern Vietnamese lacquer
Among the great names of 20th-century Vietnamese art, few artists have achieved the near-mythical status of Pham Hau. His work, instantly recognizable for its golden lakescapes, mountain landscapes, and deep reds, now represents one of the absolute pinnacles of Vietnamese lacquer painting. The artist's most important compositions regularly fetch hundreds of thousands of euros at international auctions.
A lacquered box in the style of Pham Hau
The work presented here—an elegant compartmentalized box in red and gold lacquer—fits squarely within the decorative vocabulary developed by Pham Hau during the 1940s–1960s. The design depicts an aquatic landscape dotted with junks and rocky islets, evoking Halong Bay or the landscapes of Tonkin, major themes for the artist. The black reliefs highlighted with gold, the stylized trees, and the interplay of depth immediately recall the large panels and screens that brought him international renown.
Even in smaller formats, Pham Hau and his workshop maintained remarkable technical sophistication. These decorative objects were intended for an affluent Vietnamese and colonial clientele, fascinated by the modernity of Vietnamese lacquerware produced at the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine.
The birth of a master of Vietnamese lacquer
Pham Hau, whose real name was Phạm Quang Hậu, was born in 1903 in the village of Đông Ngạc near Hanoi. From a modest background, he experienced a difficult youth before enrolling at the Indochina School of Fine Arts in Hanoi, founded by Victor Tardieu. This school, a true artistic laboratory of modern Vietnam, revolutionized Asian painting by fusing Western techniques with Vietnamese traditions.
Under the influence of the painter Joseph Inguimberty, traditional Vietnamese lacquer gradually ceased to be a mere decorative art and became a major pictorial medium. Pham Hau belonged to this founding generation that radically transformed lacquer into a modern artistic language.
He quickly developed an exceptional mastery of transparencies, depth effects, and materials. His compositions combine Vietnamese landscapes, aquatic scenes, pagodas, lush jungles, and symbolic animals in an aesthetic that is both contemplative and monumental.
An extremely complex technique
Vietnamese lacquer painting is one of the most complex techniques in the history of Asian art. Unlike classical painting, a lacquer work sometimes requires several months of work.
The artists apply multiple successive layers of natural lacquer resin, each layer drying and then being sanded before the next application. Pigments, gold powder, silver leaf, crushed mother-of-pearl, or eggshells are gradually incorporated into the different layers of material.
Pham Hau particularly excelled at creating depth effects through successive polishing. The golden areas seemed to emerge slowly from the black or red surface, giving his landscapes an almost ethereal luminosity. This technical mastery largely explains the fascination his works hold today.
His most ambitious panels could require several years to complete.
Landscapes that have become iconic
Pham Hau's universe is instantly recognizable. His compositions frequently depict:
The landscapes of Tonkin
Rocky bays inspired by Halong
The pagodas of Northern Vietnam
Junks sailing on calm waters
Deer and forest scenes
Goldfish symbolize prosperity and abundance
Its deep reds combined with golds and blacks have become one of the major visual signatures of modern Vietnamese lacquer.
The artist also developed monumental formats: panels, triptychs and especially immense six-panel screens which are now extremely sought after by Asian collectors.
A price explosion on the international market
The Pham Hau market has seen spectacular growth in recent years. Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, and now Vietnam itself are vying for the artist's best works.
Some major works have exceeded one million dollars, notably the large panels with carp and the important screens decorated with landscapes of Tonkin.
Today, the estimates observed in the market are approximately as follows:
Small boxes and decorative objects: from a few thousand to several tens of thousands of euros
Large lacquered panels: €50,000 to €300,000
Large, monumental screens: several hundred thousand euros
Major historical works: over one million dollars for some international records
This surge reflects the growing interest of collectors in the great masters of the Indochina School of Fine Arts.
Gauchet's intervention Asian Art
For several years, Gauchet Art Asiatique has established itself as one of the most active European firms in the market for modern Vietnamese painting and Indochinese lacquer.
Our firm regularly intervenes in the appraisal, authentication, valuation and sale of major works by Pham Hau to French and international auction houses.
Among the results obtained by our firm:
A large Pham Hau screen, appraised by our firm, was sold for €200,000 at Millon.
A large lacquered cabinet attributed to Pham Hau sold for €225,000
A silk artwork by the artist sold for €210,000
An elegant lacquered box sold for €30,000 at public auction
Our work includes:
Stylistic and technical study
Analysis of lacquer materials and processes
Origin search
Positioning in the international market
Support for collectors and auction houses
Editorial and institutional promotion of works
An artist who is now indispensable
Long considered a regional artist, Pham Hau is now recognized as one of the greatest Asian masters of the 20th century. His work perfectly synthesizes the encounter between Vietnamese tradition and Western artistic modernity initiated at the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine.
The technical sophistication of his lacquers, the silent poetry of his landscapes and the increasing rarity of large compositions explain the current international enthusiasm surrounding his work.
Pham Hau's works are now featured in major Asian and Western private collections, as well as in several leading institutions dedicated to modern Vietnamese art.
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