The Chameleon Herb Grinder from Saigon

The FITO Museum, 

situated in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), is a unique cultural gem dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Established in 2003, the museum showcases an extensive collection of over 3,000 artifacts related to oriental medicine, herbal remedies, and the rich medical history of Vietnam.

Visitors are greeted with an inviting atmosphere that combines modern design elements with traditional motifs, creating a serene environment for exploration and learning. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged to provide insights into the principles of traditional medicine, highlighting the significance of natural herbs, plants, and healing techniques used throughout Vietnamese history.

Guided tours enrich the experience, as knowledgeable staff share stories behind the artifacts and discuss their cultural relevance. One standout feature is the showcase of ancient texts and manuscripts that reveal the evolution of medicinal practices over centuries.

The museum not only serves as an educational resource but also aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these ancient traditions in a rapidly modernizing world. With its commitment to showcasing the intricate relationship between culture and health, the FITO Museum invites visitors to appreciate the beauty and wisdom inherent in Vietnam's rich medicinal heritage.

The Chameleon surprise

Among the many intriguing artifacts related not only to natural medicine but also to the history and culture of Vietnam, I was particularly captivated by a collection of grinders designed for grinding herbs and plant materials. Within this collection, there were various types, including metallic and stone grinders, as well as those crafted by local vendors, featuring many shapes such as ducks, snakes, and Chinese dragons. However, one grinder stood out distinctly; it was shaped like a chameleon.

Interestingly, chameleons are not native to Vietnam, with the nearest populations found in regions such as northeastern India or Sri Lanka. When I inquired with the museum's curators about this unique artifact, they had limited information but speculated that it might either be a product of local imagination or reflect the historical importance of such grinders in trade with India. Most of the collections originate from northern Vietnam, linked to affluent merchant houses and noble families.

The artifact provides little indication of the species from which it may have been inspired. Its design, featuring a distinctive pyramidal hat and a coiled tail, suggests its chameleon shape. However, the absence of specific features like horns or enlarged scales offers minimal clues for species identification. This sits in line with the possibility that it draws inspiration from Indian chameleons, as indian culture has a long tradition herbal medicine and Ayurveda. It raises fascinating questions about the cultural contexts and details surrounding the representation of chameleons in art and craft.

Identification as Chameleon

The body forms can be just the artistic stylisation and invention of the artist or even combination of features - it is an piece of art.  Moreover, it has a very specific function as a tool or instrument for grinding herbs… Anyway, the details reminding on a chameleon are striking:

The chameleon features:

1. pyramidal voluminous head

2. prominent extremely big eyes

3. lip line curving downwards at the corner

4. parietal seea elevated

5. supraciliar crest present

6. very abrupt separation of the head and neck, especially dorsally

7. no digits on extremities

8. position of legs along the body sides

9. laterally flattened body

10. downwards coiled tail

11. transversal bsrring of the body and tail

all these features would be typical for a chameleon, especially the Indian chameleon, Chamaeleo zeylanicus.

if it would be a gecko, then I would expect these, which are absent or not evident:

1. fingers (most gecko stylizations I have seen all around the globe have them, as the feature is so prominent)

2. extremities positioned sideways, not along the body

3. head more flat (Although eg. the Eublepharids - Goniurosaurus in Vietnam and adjacent territories and Eublepharis in India and adjacent territories passes a big head. They, however, are very little known and rarely depicted historically)

4. Head less evidently separated from neck, especially in the lateral aspect