Gold-plated horse mascots attract customers during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, a series of products featuring the horse as the zodiac animal have been launched on the market, including many 24k gold-plated products priced at tens of millions of dong.

The Lunar New Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ) has led to the creation of many horse-themed artworks to meet public demand. A workshop in Hanoi has introduced two unique 24k gold-plated horse figurines.

The two horse mascot sculptures were cast based on designs by sculptor and artist Vu Dung.

Notably, this collection includes a piece titled "The Flying Horse of Saint Giong," cast according to a design by sculptor and painter Vu Dung, handcrafted using lacquer combined with copper and gilded with 24k gold.

Inspired by the legend of Saint Gióng riding his iron horse to heaven, artist Vũ Dũng created the "Flying Horse Saint Gióng" as a symbol of speed, breakthrough, and aspiration for greatness in the year of the Horse 2026. Drawing from the story of Saint Gióng – one of the "Four Immortals" of Vietnamese folklore – the artwork is rich in movement: the galloping horse's posture suggests a spirit of progress, the swirling cloak symbolizes enduring inner strength, and the gleaming ivory bamboo represents a vow of righteousness. The magnificent golden tone completes the message of victory, prosperity, and lasting stability.

To create a finished work, the craftsman must go through many stages, mostly done by hand. First, the sculptor shapes the form using clay.

Next, a negative mold is made to transfer the material to a durable material such as copper or composite.

Once the artwork is complete, it is sent to skilled craftsmen for surface treatment and the application of 24K gold plating/coating.

Ultra-thin 24k gold leaf is meticulously applied to the horse statue.

The meticulous hand-gilding process, with each layer of gold creating a dazzling sheen for the mascot, is truly remarkable.

The finished 24K gold-plated horse artwork.

A copper-plated artwork was also released to the market for Tet (Lunar New Year), serving customers.

According to Mr. Tran Quy Van, a representative of the crafting team, the process from conceptualization and multiple prototype trials to the final gold plating usually takes several months. The finished product, when delivered to the customer, is priced between 10 and 30 million VND, depending on the version, size, and level of finish.

Sharing his thoughts on the meaning of the artworks, Mr. Tran Quy Van (a member of the author group) said that, entering the new year with much enthusiasm and positive energy, the group hopes that the Saint Giong Flying Horse mascot will bring good wishes and a new lease of life to those who own this product in the Year of the Horse 2026.

According to Mr. Van, with less than a month until the Lunar New Year, the workshop has already received its first orders. This year, the unit is proactively producing a limited quantity to ensure the quality of craftsmanship and to best serve customer needs.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/linh-vat-ngua-dat-vang-hut-khach-dip-tet-binh-ngo-2026-10404386.html