Lacquer Giong horse collection: Duong Lam heritage on journey into modernity

Nguyen Tan Phat has crafted several “chubby horse” designs this year as a fresh highlight, contributing to a unique creative narrative for the Lunar New Year - the Year of the Horse. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The works are crafted following a rigorous traditional lacquer process, involving multiple layers of coating, polishing, and intricate painting using materials such as gold, silver, eggshell, and mother-of-pearl. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Each sculpture is continuously refined in terms of proportion, lines, and emotion, depending on the story at the time of creation. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Nguyen Tan Phat creates the work “Bat ma truy phong,” which includes a horse-shaped table and eight horse-shaped chairs. This is the largest piece in the “Giong” collection. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The image conveys aspirations of progress, reaching far, and moving toward the future, similar to the meanings of idioms such as “ma dao thanh cong” (success upon the horse’s arrival) and “bat ma truy phong” (eight horses in pursuit of the wind). (Photo: VietnamPlus).

The artisan shares that in feng shui, the horse is a sacred animal symbolising advancement, luck, and perseverance. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The artisan uses local materials from the Doai region such as jackfruit wood, bamboo, and especially laterite – a signature material shaping the architectural identity of Duong Lam ancient village – to create the sculptures. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Through lacquer artworks, the image of the Giong horse has moved beyond epic narratives to become part of everyday life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

According to the artisan, the Giong horse symbolises resilience andspirit of national defence. The iron horse associated with Saint Giong – one of the four immortals of Vietnamese folk belief – represents indomitable will and the strength of youth rising to protect the nation. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Through this collection, the artisan aims to tell stories of Vietnam’s history and heritage to both domestic and international visitors. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Inspired by the image of Saint Giong riding an iron horse in Vietnamese folklore, the collection welcoming the Lunar New Year - the Year of the Horse tells a unique Vietnamese story through handcrafted works by Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Tan Phat. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Giong is a collection of one-of-a-kind lacquer horse sculptures introduced to visitors on the occasion of the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Horse by Nguyen Tan Phat, an artisan from Doai region. It takes him 10 years to complete the works (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Artisan Nguyen Tan Phat says that his creations represent a fusion of cultural heritage and modern interior design, affirming the feng shui and artistic values of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts. (Photo: VietnamPlus)