A CARVED 'BAT AND COINS' WOOD TRAY, NGUYEN DYNASTY, REIGN PERIOD OF DUY TAN Vietnam, 1907-1916. Masterfully carved in the shape of a bat, the wings spread holding a double string in its mouth and both feet, attached with three cash coins, the upper coin reading 'Duy Tan Tong Bao', the lower right 'Tong Bao'.

Provenance: From a French private collection.
Condition: Good condition with some old wear and traces of use, few small chips to the left edge of the wing, a small repair to the right wing, and a crack with a minor repair to the coin string under the right food. The back with two drilled holes, of which one shows an old fill. Superb, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 1,100 g
Dimensions: Length 53.8 cm

Duy Tân (1900-1945) was the 11^th Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty in Vietnam, who reigned as a child for 9 years between 1907 and 1916. During his reign the Nguyen government issued the 'Duy Tân Tong Bao' cash coins of different metal compositions and weights.

The bat is considered a highly auspicious symbol in Vietnam, with red bats - such as the one depicted in the present lot - being the most luckiest. Wild bats remain in Vietnam's cities to this day. They play an important role in the urban environment and ecosystem, bringing many benefits to people, including helping to reduce the number of harmful insects such as mosquitoes or pests.



阮朝維新帝時期蝙蝠銅錢木盤
越南，1907-1916年。木盤巧雕成展翅蝙蝠，口嘴裏和雙足分別叼著繩子，附三枚錢幣，上方的銅錢上可見“維新通寶”字樣，下方右邊銅錢上可見“通寶”。

來源：法國私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，有一些磨損和使用痕跡，左翼邊緣有少量小磕損，右翼有小修復，右側硬幣串有輕微修復的裂縫。背面有兩個鑽孔，其中一個有填充物。 整體上包漿細膩。

重量：1,100 克
尺寸：長 53.8 厘米

維新帝 (1900-1945) 是越南阮朝第十一代皇帝，於1907 至1916年間執政九年。在他執政時期，他鑄造了維新通寶。