Potter crafting dragon statue

In Quang Nam, to complete a dragon figurine, the potter needs a week to prepare the base, two weeks to paint the eyes, nose, whiskers, mouth, etc., and many details have to be removed and redone several times.

In the final days of the Year of the Rabbit, Le Van Nhat, 35, owner of a pottery workshop in Thanh Ha village, Hoi An city, is finishing two clay dragon statues wrapped around a money-saving jar. This is the second time he has made these mascots to display for the upcoming Year of the Dragon 2024 in Thanh Ha pottery village. Last year he made cat statues.

Mr. Le Van Nhat is finishing a statue of a dragon coiled around a soldier. Photo: Son Thuy.

Born into a family of pottery makers, Nhat started molding clay to create pottery at the age of 15. When Hoi An city developed tourism , he opened a workshop at home and is currently the youngest potter in the village. He has made many animals before, but dragons are the first he has ever crafted. "Dragons are from legends, I haven't seen them in reality, so it's very difficult to make. To choose a dragon model with a majestic aura, I searched online for images and printed them out," he said.

In December 2023, Mr. Nhat molded clay to create a 70 cm high, 55 cm diameter dragon-wrapped soldier figure. Both the soldier figure and the dragon's body were hollowed out with many holes, the purpose being to prevent cracking or exploding when placed in the kiln.

Compared to other mascots, dragons have many small details such as whiskers, legs, claws, and teeth, requiring the craftsman to be patient and meticulous. Many details had to be redone several times before Mr. Nhat was satisfied. "After being molded, the statue dries quickly. While making a dragon statue takes many days, the clay is unusable when it dries out. I have to cover it to keep the clay moist," he said.

Mr. Nhat estimates it will take him about 20 days to complete this pair of mascots.

Mr. Nhat meticulously crafted the dragon head. Photo: Son Thuy.

Also participating in crafting dragon statues for Thanh Ha pottery village, 40-year-old Nguyen Van Hoang made two reclining dragons, each 90 cm long with their heads raised 55 cm high. To complete each product, he spends one week making the mold, two weeks sculpting, painting details, and firing.

The most difficult part is the dragon's head. This is considered the soul of the product, focusing on many details such as the eyes, nose, whiskers, mouth, horns, etc. "I spent more than two days just on the eyes. Every line and part needs to be sharp and precise, creating the noble and majestic appearance of the dragon," Mr. Hoang recounted.

Besides Nhat and Hoang, the remaining potters made two dragon statues. It is expected that the six dragon statues will be displayed in Thanh Ha village on the 25th of December in the lunar calendar. This work only brings in a few hundred thousand dong per day, much lower than other professions, but Nhat says he doesn't prioritize money; he wants to "breathe life into pottery."

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang is finishing a reclining dragon sculpture. Photo: Son Thuy

The Thanh Ha Pottery Village Management Board announced that six dragon statues will be displayed around the village to welcome the new year. Visitors will be able to admire and take photos with the zodiac animal of 2024.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village is located along the Thu Bon River, about 3 km west of the center of Hoi An city. It is a distinctive tourist attraction in Hoi An, with over 500 years of history and development.

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