The hobby of collecting fine wood crafts.

Rooted in folk beliefs and a lifestyle close to nature, the hobby of collecting fine wood crafts has existed in Vietnamese families since ancient times. Today, fine wood crafts – works of art made from wood that are increasingly creative and unique, imbued with artistic, feng shui, and spiritual values – remain a passion pursued by many...

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Huy displays many unique handcrafted wooden furniture pieces in his living room.

Despite its spaciousness, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Huy's living room (Tan Long area, Doan Hung town, Doan Hung district) isn't used for receiving guests as usual, but rather as a place where he respectfully displays dozens of large and small handcrafted wooden items of various shapes, styles, and patterns. Having pursued this hobby for many years, Mr. Huy has become increasingly passionate and discovered many interesting things. Wooden furniture represents the Wood element, which in turn symbolizes spring; arranging wooden items in the house brings peace, harmony, and warmth. While wooden furniture is favored for its convenience, elegance, and durability, handcrafted wooden products are appreciated for their uniqueness and creativity. They serve both as decoration and contain many feng shui and spiritual elements, such as: Maitreya Buddha statues, toad figurines, the Four Sacred Animals, the Horse of Success, sailboats, vases, etc.

“Each piece of fine wood craftsmanship doesn't have a fixed price; its value varies depending on the individual's appreciation, judgment, and appreciation. For handcrafted items made from precious wood with unique designs, the cost of ownership is considerable. Then there are pieces that, in terms of wood value, are worth nothing, crafted from common wood or tree stumps in the yard… but when artisans breathe life into them, carving and sculpting them, they become unique, highly valuable artistically, even one-of-a-kind,” Huy shared.

According to Mr. Huy, collectors of fine wood carvings often appreciate burl wood – the wounds formed by the tree's damage from pests, diseases, lightning strikes, or chopping. Over many years, the tree accumulates nutrients to nourish and heal these wounds, forming large, gnarled lumps. Burl wood is usually of high quality, has a long lifespan, and possesses more beautiful and distinctive natural colors and grain patterns compared to the main tree. Previously, burl was considered a superfluous growth of the tree, only to be cut off and discarded. Today, for collectors of fine wood carvings, burl wood, especially from precious trees, is considered a "premium" material, promising the creation of unique, rare, and distinctive statues, thus always attracting collectors.

The hobby of collecting fine wood crafts.

The exquisitely handcrafted statue of Maitreya Buddha, carved from agarwood, is Mr. Hoang Minh Toan's favorite.

Sharing the same passion as Huy, for Hoang Minh Toan (Tram Sao area, Gia Cam ward, Viet Tri city), collecting fine wood carvings also helps him regain energy and balance his life. Entering Toan's house, one will always find a subtle, gentle, and relaxing fragrance. This is the scent from the agarwood statues that Toan has painstakingly collected over many years.

Among them, his favorite statue is the Maitreya Buddha under a pine tree, standing 2.5 meters tall, exquisitely handcrafted, and painstakingly brought back from Ha Giang . On one hand, he faces the extremely demanding and busy work of his business. On the other hand, his hobby of collecting fine wood carvings not only brings feng shui value to his family but also provides Toan with moments of relaxation and tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of life.

“My business travels a lot, giving me the opportunity to explore, discover , and collect fine wood carvings. For me, the joy after a hard day's work isn't just about reuniting with family, but also about admiring and touching the statues I love. Each time I enjoy them, inhaling the scent emanating from the wood, contemplating the meaning, the message, and the historical anecdotes within them to understand the soul and spirit of the statue, all my fatigue seems to disappear.”

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