In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, the working atmosphere at Dong Xam silver carving village in Hong Thai commune, Kien Xuong district, former Thai Binh province (now Tra Giang commune, Hung Yen province) became more vibrant than ever. Production facilities and households engaged in the craft are busy completing orders to serve the Tet market, in which carving products with horse mascot images are favored by many customers.
According to craft village artisans, when Tet comes, depending on each year, facilities will produce mascots to suit the trend, this year it is a horse mascot.
Folk beliefs say that horses are mascots symbolizing perseverance, loyalty, perseverance and success. The image of horses is also associated with the meaning of "success upon arrival", expressing aspirations for smooth work, favorable business, and abundant fortune in the new year. Therefore, horse mascot carving products in Dong Xam village are often chosen by people to display and give as gifts for the Lunar New Year.
Associated with the traditional craft for nearly 40 years, Artisan Nguyen Van Hoan in Dong Xam village said that to create a complete silver-plated product, Dong Xam artisans must go through many meticulous stages. From creating embryos, carving lines, embossing to perfecting the surface, each detail requires skill and long-term experience to ensure the aesthetics and traditional value of the product.
Strengthening horse painting production to serve Tet, right from August of the lunar calendar, the facility of Mrs. Ta Thi Tuoi's family in Dong Xam village began carving hundreds of horse paintings of all kinds to serve the Tet market. The production volume increased by about 30 - 40% compared to normal days. Depending on the size of the mascot and painting, as well as the designs customers order, there will be different prices.
The vibrant production activities in the last days of the year not only contribute to increasing income for local people but are also proof of the sustainable vitality of Dong Xam silver carving craft village, thereby preserving and promoting long-standing traditional cultural values.
