Bookmarks from Vietnam and Cambodia

by

Laine Farley

One of my bookmark scouts recently traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia and found some unusual bookmarks representing the scenes, materials, and crafts of these countries. Although I have many bookmarks from other Asian countries, I was surprised to find that these are the first in my collection for this area. 

Two bookmarks came from the Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi. The delicate painting of a flower, presumably an orchid, is on some kind of striated fiber with texture similar to handmade paper. Perhaps it is rice paper, made from the bark of the Do tree and used in numerous products from greeting cards to paintings to lamps. According to various histories of handmade paper, China originated the technique for handmade paper still used today. The secret remained in China until the third century when it spread first to Vietnam and then to Korea. It was not until the twelfth century that the technique reached Europe.

                                                

The second bookmark from the Museum is a charming figure of a man in a black tunic with green shoulders, wearing a red headband. He is handmade from cut paper with delicate details painted in metallic gold. Even the back is detailed correctly. Although I found information on many Vietnamese costumes, I did not locate one exactly like this. Since he is holding a sword, perhaps he is a soldier or warrior. 

         

From the intriguingly named Temple of Literature there is a scene painted on a bookmark-sized bamboo screen. Although somewhat crude, it still presents an appealing scene of women carrying baskets and red-roofed buildings with cascades of flowers. The Temple of Literature is an appropriate place to find a bookmark since it was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, and is dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It is also the site of Vietnam’s first university where the children of royalty and the aristocracy were educated. With its courtyards and ponds with names such as the “well of heavenly clarity” and “courtyard of the sage sanctuary”, it is described as a place of serenity by a resident who visits it often and provides some photos of favorite scenes. 

Bamboo is used in many crafts and useful objects in Vietnam. There are even villages dedicated to bamboo and rattan weaving. Apparently, the technique involves weaving very thin splints with a small awl, similar to embroidering. The lovely green bookmark from Artisans d'Angkor in Cambodia illustrates a slightly different technique with a fabric border and a tassel with a large knot. This bookmark has a nice feel, flexible, slightly slick, and very organic. The artisans’ workshop from where it came is dedicated to preserving traditional crafts by training young apprentices and then providing them with jobs. This laudable program, funded originally by the European Union, seeks to “Help young Cambodian artisans to find work in their home villages and provide them with a trade and role in society. In this way, Artisans d’Angkor offers professional, economic and social integration.” The training program focuses mainly on stone sculpture, wood carving and silk painting. It is conceivable that both of these bamboo bookmarks were simple projects used as training exercises for young artisans. Fortunately, they make lovely souvenirs and lead to learning more about these fascinating countries and their cultural heritage.

Bookmark specifications: [painted orchid]
Dimensions: 2 1/4” x 8 3/4”
Material: Paper
Manufacturer: Unknown
Date: 2007?
Acquired: Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi, Vietnam

Bookmark specifications: [Vietnam warrior]
Dimensions: 2" x 7 3/4"
Material: Paper
Manufacturer: Unknown
Date: 2007?
Acquired: Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi, Vietnam

Bookmark specifications: [painted bamboo]  
Dimensions: 1 3/4" x  7 "
Material: Bamboo
Manufacturer: Unknown
Date: 2007?
Acquired: Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam

Bookmark specifications: [green bamboo]
Dimensions: 1 5/8" x 6 1/2"
Material: Bamboo, fabric
Manufacturer: Unknown
Date: 2007?
Acquired: Artisans d'Angkor, Angkor, Cambodia


Laine Farley is a digital librarian who misses being around the look, feel and smell of real books.  Her collection of over 3,000 bookmarks began with a serendipitous find while reviewing books donated to the library. Fortunately, her complementary collection of articles and books about bookmarks provides an excuse for her to get back to libraries and try her hand at writing about bookmarks. Farley’s web site is Collecting Bookmarks (Physical, not Virtual), and she can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it