The famous goldsmith of Vinh street and his love for Uncle Ho

Mr. Phu Nguyen's real name is Le Van Soi, from Nam Dinh city. When he was young, his family was very poor. Following in the footsteps of other fellow countrymen, Mr. Soi's parents shouldered the burden of bringing the whole family to Vinh to start a business. They worked hard to earn a living, including working for hire. All three of their eldest sons, including Mr. Soi, applied to learn a trade and then worked as craftsmen for Bao Nguyen Gold Shop, a large gold shop right at the intersection of Vinh market.

Mr. Le Van Soi when he was young. Photo: Archive

All three brothers were very diligent and intelligent in their studies. As young men, they soon became skilled silversmiths at Bao Nguyen Gold Shop. When they were old enough, they asked their owners to let them open their own gold shops. At first, Mr. Soi went to Saigon to work for a while, then in 1928 he returned to Vinh to establish his own gold shop and named it Phu Nguyen. By the 1940s, Phu Nguyen Gold Shop had become famous for its quality and sophistication in its craftsmanship. Mr. Soi, from a skilled goldsmith, became an artisan and a successful businessman.

The August Revolution succeeded, and the whole country eagerly entered a new life as the owners of an independent country. To support the newly established government with an empty treasury, President Ho launched the Golden Week from September 17 to 24, 1945. Phu Nguyen was one of the three families that donated the most gold and money to the resistance in Vinh city at that time.

During the resistance war against the French, Mr. Phu Nguyen participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. He also supported the resistance with 3 bicycles to serve the bicycle transport team in which he was a soldier. During the destructive war of the American imperialists, he arranged for his wife and children to evacuate, but Mr. Phu Nguyen stayed in the city with the Rang Dong cooperative, both producing and participating in combat service.

"Female militiamen dragging the wreckage of an American plane" made of duralumin. Photo courtesy

Unexpectedly, during the war of destruction, the goldsmith's skills had a chance to be used. First of all, from scrap and American aircraft wrecks (with many dura), he produced products such as cargo racks, rims, fenders, and bicycle chain guards that were very beautiful and durable. The talent of the goldsmith only truly blossomed when he crafted very sophisticated fine art objects, even unique works of art, from pieces of American aircraft wreckage.

In particular, duralumin is a very hard and brittle material, and cannot be welded, so it is not easy to manufacture, but with his creative mind and talented hands, the materials used for war in American civilization have been transformed into fine arts and works of art containing profound content and sophisticated aesthetic level.

At that time, Military Region 4 was his regular “customer” when they needed handicrafts made from American aircraft wrecks as gifts, especially for foreign guests. Currently, the Military Region 4 Museum and his family’s private home still preserve those artifacts of historical and artistic significance.

Mr. Phu Nguyen created a portrait of Uncle Ho on dura material in 1969. Photo courtesy

In 1969, President Ho Chi Minh passed away. Mr. Phu Nguyen suppressed his grief, devoted all his passion and talent to creating unique works of art about him. The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh that his family is currently placing on his altar is a relief made of dura. If you know that he mainly molded from behind to create the front character, then you can see the artist's talent. With this work, he is not only a delicate artist, but also a talented sculptor.

Another work that crystallizes the sculptor's talent, the talented hands of the goldsmith and the love for the leader is "Uncle Ho's Countryside". This is also a work made from dura material. From a thick dura sheet, he created a work of art with 4 layers from the inside out. The innermost layer is a row of trees, with areca trees reaching high and in the sky are two birds flying peacefully. The second layer is 2 thatched roofs, simple and familiar. The third layer is the garden, with a grapefruit tree at the gable, a mulberry tree in front of the yard and flowers and grass surrounding it. And the outermost layer is an ancient tree, next to a row of bamboo, as if wanting to cool the whole house.

"Uncle Ho's Grandmother's Countryside", duralumin material. Photo courtesy

It is incomprehensible how on a very hard and brittle dura mat, he could trim such thin and tiny bamboo leaves. Everything, from the roof, the rows of trees, the bamboo, the flowers, the grass… are very lively, natural and soft. His family said that during the time he created these works, he almost “did not wash his hands”, sitting meticulously from morning to night, from evening to late at night, next to the oil lamp. Every night before going to bed, his face, especially his two nostrils, were covered with black soot from the oil lamp.

Obviously, outstanding talent and golden hands are not enough. If it does not come from the heart for Uncle Ho, then there cannot be such unique works of art.