Brian Jeffrey
As the Lunar New Year of the Snake approaches, many are already on the lookout for special luxury gifts, including gold-coated pieces and snake-inspired decorations, despite the fact that the 2025 Solar New Year is still a few months away.
At a workshop in Tay Mo, Nam Tu Liem District of Hanoi, the facility began taking orders for snake-themed pieces as early as the ninth lunar month. The owner indicates that proactive ordering is a trend, as customers prefer to sidestep the last-minute rush before the holiday.
Nguyen Tung Lam, an artisan from Act Gold Company, explains that his company has been crafting gold-plated gifts for the Lunar New Year since 2019. They typically receive several substantial orders for Tet mascots and artistic pieces, often amounting to hundreds of items per order.
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Within Eastern belief, snakes are seen as symbols of good fortune, wealth, wisdom, and strength. They embody the ideas of change, renewal, and vigorous development.
The workshop produces various unique items, including a large snake statue measuring 35cm by 55cm by 69cm, priced at 99 million VND, alongside a smaller version at 19.5cm by 14cm by 25cm, priced at 8.8 million VND.
Tung Lam emphasizes that crafting these designs involves careful focus on more than just the visual elements; attention is also devoted to the expressions and behaviors of the snakes. For the Year of the Snake, the figures feature gentle gazes and upward-turned heads, devoid of visible fangs to symbolize peace.
Each concept starts development roughly six months prior to the New Year, providing sufficient time for enhancement and creation.
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Customers also have the opportunity to request bespoke gold-plated paintings, where artisans bring personal concepts and images to life in vibrant, three-dimensional forms.
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A highlight of the offerings includes a gold-plated artwork depicting two phoenixes, which takes around two weeks to create. This exquisite piece, priced at 250 million VND, features finely layered gold leaf on a black fabric canvas, presented in a sophisticated wooden frame.
