With just over a month to go before Tet, Pham Chi Linh’s workshop is busy as workers race to complete orders for horse-themed mascots.
This year, Linh’s facility is offering a wide range of designs, including Phu Dong horses, Xich Tho, mythical horses and chibi-style horses, catering to different customer segments.
One customer in Ho Chi Minh City has booked a pair of horse mascots about five metres tall, worth more than VND 200 million (USD 7,604). After two weeks of production, the pair has completed the shaping stage and is awaiting painting before delivery.
Linh said large mascots are usually made in sections and assembled later, and are also dismantled for easier transport.
A Saint Giong horse model, made of foam and a steel frame, weighs nearly 50 kilogrammes and is priced at VND 120 million (USD 4,562). It has proved popular with customers for its cultural symbolism.
Duong Viet Trieu, 49, a veteran artisan in Tet mascot production, said horses were easier to make than dragons, snakes or tigers, but the head, especially the mane and face, was the most challenging part in capturing the power of a warhorse.
This year, Linh has applied robotic technology to the production process, helping cut and shape mascots faster and more accurately.
“Using robots in Tet mascot production boosts speed and precision and saves labour, mainly by using robotic arms to cut and shape from 3D designs, especially for complex details or large mascots,” Linh said.
With a 2,500-square-metre workshop and 50 workers, Linh’s facility is producing more than 300 horse mascots, from chibi models priced at VND 10-20 million to five-metre warhorses costing up to VND 120 million.
The mascots are made from foam and steel frames, with meticulous work required on the head and mane to convey the strength of a warhorse.
Linh said this was his eighth year producing Tet mascots, with customers mainly in Ho Chi Minh City and southeastern provinces.
Most models are moderately sized and designed with a cute look to match current tastes. The workshop is also preparing to produce horse mascots for Nguyen Hue Flower Street.
