Statue of a Pan pipe-playing Couple Piggybacking, bronze, Dong Son culture, c. 2,500-2,000 BP.
Statue of a Pan pipe-playing Couple Piggybacking, bronze, Dong Son culture, c. 2,500-2,000 BP.
This fine artefact was discovered by Swedish archaeologist, Robert Ture Olov Janse, during the excavation of a brick grave in Lach Truong commune, Hoang Hoa district, Thanh Hoa province, and was moved to the Museum in 1935.
The statue represents a dancing figurine and a musician playing a panpipe. They wear simple costumes, turbans and large earrings. The carrying person dances to the pan pipe music and his arms put around the other sitting on his back, creating a unified and harmonious entity. This statue could have been attached to the lid or handle of a utensil and is considered one of the most distinctive artworks of the ancient Viet people.
This statue not only shows the high level of bronze manufacture of the Dong Son people but also reflects flourishing and diverse development of art forms such as sculpture (statues), music (pan pipe) and dance. In addition, it provides precious data for research on costumes, jewelry and material and spiritual life of the Dong Son people.