Gold laminating and gilding in Kieu Ky village

Many may know how gilded products are made, but few know that there’s a tiny material used for such sophisticated artworks, which can be only made in an outskirt village of Hanoi.

Ultra-thin gold leaves for gilding are distinctive products made by artisans in Kieu Kỵ commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi, which cannot be found elsewhere in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Kieu Ky villagers have made gold leaves since the 18th century to decorate courts, buildings and interiors of aristocrats, as well as Buddhist sanctuaries in the former Thang Long capital (Photo :VNA)

Gold leave making is a sophisticated work which requires consummate skill and patience as artisans need to complete eight major steps with dozens of small tasks (Photo: VNA)

Finished ultra-thin golden leaves (Photo: VNA)

To create a smooth and shiny golden coat for ancient-looked products, gilding craftsmen need to overlay the products with super-thin gold leaves while the paintwork is still wet (Photo: VNA)

To create a smooth and shiny golden coat for ancient-looked products, gilding craftsmen need to overlay the products with super-thin gold leaves while the paintwork is still wet (Photo: VNA)

(Photo: VNA)

Gold-gilded product by artisans from Kieu Ky village (Photo: VNA)

(Photo: VNA)

(Photo: VNA)

(Photo: VNA)

(Photo: VNA)

VNA