Description: Vietnamese Nguyen Dynasty Minh Mang Period Hand Carved Wood Emperor's Dragon Boat - This spectacular piece is a hand carved wooden dragon boat from the Minh Mang reign of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam. This piece depicts Emperor Minh Mang's pagoda boat, with the Emperor resting underneath the pagoda surrounded by his servants rowing the boat. The boat is in the form of a dragon, with the head beginning at the bow, the body creating the length of the boat and finishing with the tail at the stern. The boat rests on a base of stylized waves, and shows incredible attention to detail. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private as they still have relatives living in Vietnam). This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. Measurements (approximate): 15"H x 20"W.