Admire the gold-plated dragons crafted by artisans from Bat Trang pottery village.
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, pottery workshops in Bat Trang village (Gia Lam district, Hanoi ) are bustling with activity, producing unique products featuring the image of the dragon, the zodiac animal of the Year of the Dragon. Particularly noteworthy is a product inspired by a golden seal, named "The Seal of the Sacred Dragon".
According to artisan Pham Viet Khoa, his workshop receives orders to create the mascot corresponding to that year every year.
This year, the product commissioned from his workshop is a gold-plated dragon seal, inspired by the stylized "Emperor's Treasure" gold seal from the time of King Minh Mạng.
Throughout history, the image of the dragon has always symbolized majesty, prosperity, and good fortune.
Shaping the clay is the most difficult and crucial step, requiring the artist to be meticulous in every detail to create a product with the exact shape requested.
Every detail is handcrafted with all the skill and meticulousness of the potter.
After the dragon seals are sculpted in clay, the blanks are glazed and fired for about 5 days before being painted and gilded.
Mr. Khoa created the dragon image based on the dragon image from the Le Dynasty, which resides in the Kinh Thien Palace (Thang Long Imperial Citadel).
After firing, the craftsman uses liquid gold to draw each line on the product, then continues firing for 6-8 hours to achieve a striking and luxurious finish.
According to Mac Trieu Duong, who has 4 years of experience in painting on ceramic products, it takes him an average of 2.5 hours to complete one dragon figurine, and he can complete a maximum of 5 products per day.
"The most difficult part is drawing the hidden details, the intricate details nestled deep within the small crevices of the product," Mr. Duong said.
The finished product must have a uniform shine of gold, no burn marks, and continuous lines. Three sides of the product bear the words "An," "Thuan," and "Phat," while the remaining side is carved with a carp transforming into a dragon, symbolizing development, excellence, and transition to a new phase.
Currently, dragon mascots are always in high demand, with each product sold coming with a certificate of ownership. The price of each dragon mascot ranges from 8,000,000 to 12,000,000 VND (depending on the version and color).
Mr. Nguyen Van Luc, the unit that conceived the idea and commissioned the artisans to create the auspicious products for the Year of the Dragon, said: "The collection, named 'The Mark of the Sacred Dragon,' signifies a milestone marking a new era, a step into a new period of prosperity."
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