The 2026 World Cup is approaching with heat from 48 teams and millions of fans. While the world is counting down to the day the ball rolls, in a small corner of the room, a former teacher chooses to miniaturize this super event on eggshells.
That is Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (75 years old, residing in Thong Tay Hoi ward, Ho Chi Minh City). He recreated the trio of mascots representing the three co-host countries of this year's World Cup: Maple (chameleon of Canada), Zayu (spotted leopard of Mexico) and Clutch (white-headed eagle of the United States).
Sharing about the process of crafting, Mr. Tam said that the biggest challenge of this art is the gravity problem. The eggshell is inherently hollow and super light, so it is very easy to fall when adding auxiliary details. To maintain balance for the mascot's legs made of straws, he cleverly lined 1 cent copper as a counterweight under the legs of leopards and eagles. For the pheasant with a zinc wire shell, he had to increase the counterweight to 5 cent copper combined with a thin lead-wrapped support.
The embossed material is also carefully selected by him. He uses clay to make flowers that is light when dry, helping eggshells withstand good force without worrying about cracking. Although old, Mr. Tam still spends 2 to 3 hours a day diligently shaping and painting. To complete this trio of mascots, Mr. Tam spent more than three weeks working with an average time of 2 to 3 hours a day.
Starting from making models of Santa Claus or an Earthball made of eggshells to illustrate lectures for students, this hobby has been associated with him since I didn't know when. To date, his fortune has exceeded the milestone of 1,000 works. Mr. Tam once set a Vietnam record in 2010 with a collection of more than 300 artifacts. From quail eggs, chicken eggs to ostrich eggs or even soft-shell turtle eggs, he has successfully experimented.
Making each specimen is a time to find ways to resolve his own difficulties, helping him always have to brainstorm and be creative. In his old age, each eggshell for him is not only an artistic challenge but also a quiet space to dialogue with himself and preserve the joy of life.
