VHM_0023
Descriptive title
Coconut shell spoon
Creator(s)
Initial context
Date
1977/1978 - 1982
Object type(s)
Material(s)
Description
Spoon hand-carved by Trần Thắng Tài, a former soldier of the Republic of Vietnam (Việt Nam Cộng Hòa), during his imprisonment in a Communist "re-education" camp. After leading a rebellion against the new regime following the fall of Saigon in 1975, he was captured in 1977/1978 and imprisoned in a Communist forced labor camp, where he endured harsh conditions and lacked access to basic necessities. While imprisoned, Trần Thắng Tài carved this spoon from a coconut shell to use as a makeshift utensil for eating his meals.
Collection
Donor(s)
Current location
Rights description
Donated to the Vietnamese Heritage Museum by Trần Ngọc Ánh, in honor of her late husband, Trần Thắng Tài
Back of spoon micrograph
Coconut shell spoon, from top
Coconut shell spoon, with color card and scale
Coconut shell spoon, with scale
Coconut shell spoon, from side
Coconut shell spoon, close up
Timeline
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Spoon donated to the Vietnamese Heritage Museum
August 9, 2022Donated to the Vietnamese Heritage Museum by Trần Ngọc Ánh.
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Spoon carved from coconut shell
1977/1978 - 1982Spoon hand-carved from a coconut shell and used by Trần Thắng Tài while imprisoned in a Communist "re-education" camp.