Paris – Sonata of the Fairyland (Sonate du pays des fées) by Nguyen Gia Tri is one of the highlights of the Vietnamese Art online sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris, which runs from 6 to 13 June. Estimated at €80,000-120,000, this lacquer masterpiece embodies the genius of a visionary who transformed Vietnamese lacquer into an ode to timeless beauty while 2025 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (EBAI).

Each figure, inlaid with white eggshell, reveals a cracked texture resembling a mosaic of broken porcelain. The finely drawn áo dài captures the timeless grace of Vietnamese women, with dresses seeming to ripple under an invisible breeze. This contrast between the fragility of the silhouettes and the richness of the red and gold background creates an illusion of life: these fairies, both present and evanescent, seem ready to vanish into the ether, leaving behind only a breath of magic.

Joan Yip, Senior Specialist and Head of Southeast Asian Modern & Contemporary Art department, said: "As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the EBAI this year, I am delighted to organise this sale offering paintings of incredible delicacy and technical mastery by Vietnamese Masters, which are an ode to beauty. We offer our clients a large selection of Vietnamese art, and our commitment to this art has been consistent for decades. This auction offers rare Vietnamese treasures from various European collections."

From a French collection, a Nude by Vu Cao Dam (1908-2000) executed in 1941 described a female body posing in the muted half-light of a dream. On fine silk, delicately imprinted with ink and powdery colours, the Vietnamese painter composed a hymn to the silence of the nude – a silent but vibrant song, nourished both by Far Eastern tradition and by the French modernity that the artist had been working with for nearly a decade in Paris (estimate: €60,000-80,000). In this work, Vu Cao Dam combines the extreme refinement of oriental brushwork with the intimate sensuality of modern nudes. The frame, which, according to his daughter Yannick Vu-Jakober, was made by Vu Cao Dam himself, gives the work the precious unity of a complete object, thought through to the last detail.

From the Pierre Le-Tan collection, Élégance voilée circa 1938 by Le Pho (1907-2001) features a Vietnamese woman wearing dark clothing and a veil, holding her hand near her face in a contemplative or introspective pose (estimate: €50,000-70,000). The white flowers and green leaves in the foreground, contrast beautifully with the darker tones, highlighting Le Pho's skill in creating balanced and harmonious compositions. The painting captures the elegance and fluidity in the depiction of the figure and the natural elements. Le Pho's attention to detail in the flowers and the figure's attire creates a lifelike and immersive scene, reflecting the influence of Italian Renaissance paintings.

Other Highlights of the sale include:

From the Collection of S. A. T. Le Prince Bao Long, an exceptional and Rare Imperial Yellow-Ground Silk Embroidered Almanack, by the Imperial Workshops in Hue, Nguyen Dynasty, dated to the fourth year of the Bao Dai reign, 1930 (estimate: €20,000-30,000)

This rare and finely preserved manuscript is a handwritten copy of the Hiệp Kỷ Lịch (協紀曆), the traditional Vietnamese lunisolar almanack, produced in 1930 during the fourth year of Emperor Bảo Đại's reign. Created within the Imperial Workshops of Huế, this work exemplifies the enduring scholarly and ceremonial traditions of the Nguyễn court in its final decades.

The manuscript is bound in yellow silk – an imperial colour – exquisitely embroidered with a dragon in flight amidst swirling clouds, rendered in vibrant shades of blue, pink, and orange. The dragon, a symbol of imperial authority, is framed by intricate geometric and floral borders, reflecting the refined craftsmanship of the court workshops. The front cover bears a rectangular label inscribed with two Chinese characters denoting Imperial Almanack, affirming its official status.

The interior contains 57 double-page manuscripts, each meticulously handwritten in Chinese character in ink on paper. The almanack contains detailed calendrical data, including lunar phases, solar terms, zodiacal elements, and ritual observances. Unlike the printed editions commonly distributed to officials and the public, this handwritten version was likely intended for high-ranking court use or ceremonial purposes.

Of historical significance, this manuscript was formerly in the personal collection of Prince Bảo Long, the eldest son of Emperor Bảo Đại and the last Crown Prince of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It was dispersed at public auction in Paris by Binoche in 1995, and remains a rare surviving artefact directly linked to the imperial household.

Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Queen Mother in the Imperial City of Hué, ink and colour on paperwork by the Imperial Workshops in Hue, Nguyen Dynasty, reign of Thanh Thai, 1903 (estimate: €3,000-5,000)

This Celebration was a tribute to the fiftieth birthday of the Queen Mother, to which French civil servants and their families were invited. 7th month of the 15th year of the reign of Thanh Thai (1903).