In the past, Ngo village was Phuong Ngo, a long-standing traditional pearl mosaic craft village. According to legend and family god of Chuon Ngo village, the profession of mosaicking existed in Chuyen My very early, around the 11th – 13th centuries.

Each product of Chuon Ngo pearl mosaic is rated by users as a decoration

increase the aesthetic value of the house. (Photo: Quoc Nam).

The profession of mosaic is a profession that requires a lot of effort and meticulousness. To get a sophisticated and vivid pearl mosaic product, the artist has to go through many different stages: from drawing a pattern, cutting according to the pattern pattern, gluing the cut piece to the wood and chiseling according to the motifs, To paste the mussels, use a grinding stone to grind them flat and use a steel knife to cut out the small patterns, use sandpaper to make the texture stand out. Finally, the entire product will be varnished to make the textures emerge as vividly as a painting.

 The highlight of Chuon Ngo’s mosaic products is that the pieces are unbroken, always flat, chiseled and attached to the wood very closely. The selection of mussel shells, snail shells, or mussel shells to suit the product that is about to be made is also a very important step. There are many types of mussel shells: small, dark winged mussels; mussels white flesh, thick shell; Nong Cong oysters (Thanh Hoa) have many veins. Sea snails must be conch, there are many in the waters of Quy Nhon, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet… In addition, there is a special type of mussel shell called Cuu Khong (because there are 9 shell holes on the side. edge), has a richer color pattern than the rainbow. If you want to make famous goods such as mountains, phoenix wings, and peacock wings, you must find the Cuu Khong.

One of the sophisticated products from the craft village is the betel nut wine box

with the technique of carefully interlacing snails in the ancient Hue style. (Photo: Lam Phong).

Chuon Ngo mosaic village, Chuyen My commune, Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi. Previously, Chuon Ngo artisans often inlaid paintings according to the stories of Tam Quoc and other ancient stories such as: “Three ancients of Thao Lu”, ” Literature for sage”, or according to conventional models such as: apricot, pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, bird, flower, “four people” scene – 4 people in ancient times. Today, the topic of mosaic paintings is much more diverse and richer such as the famous monuments and landscapes of the country: One Pillar Pagoda, Ha Long, Hue, Saigon.

 At one time, Chuon Ngo mosaic craft seemed to have disappeared because of the ups and downs of time and historical events, but the vitality of a traditional craft village is still sustainable with time, so that today the Ha people Noi still boasts a sophisticated craft village, with unique products that are rarely found elsewhere. More than 70% of households in the village have laborers doing mosaic work and participate in service activities for the development of mosaic craft. Chuon Ngo pearl mosaic products have crossed national boundaries, reaching out to the continents and the world, to demanding markets such as the UK, the Netherlands, the US, Japan… The names of famous artisans such as artisan Nguyen Phu Vinh, artist Nguyen Duc Biet, artist Tran Ba ​​Dinh … are known throughout the country.

 Chuon Ngo’s mother of pearl mosaic products are superior to those of other places, including Dong Ky, thanks to their sophisticated and soulful lines. Therefore, a product inlaid with Chuon Ngo pearls has a very high price, but the product is very beautiful. Recently, Chuon Ngo not only uses traditional mussel shells to make popular products, but also imports many materials from Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia… to make high-end products. Products of Chuon Ngo appear everywhere and are increasingly favored by domestic and international customers. The intricate mosaics of pearls not only show the originality and wisdom of the artisans, but also reflect the era and its usefulness and aesthetics.

 The national traditional New Year is also the time when the house, people eagerly redecorate their houses with the desire to receive peace and luck. And Chuon Ngo pearl mosaic products are also one of the favorite choices of many people and families because of their sophisticated features, delicate patterns, and high art. The people of Kham Trai craft village seem to be in a hurry these days, busy with unique needs from customers. As Artisan Vu Duc Thang said, “If people still remember the Tet holiday and have a need to find products inlaid with Chuon Ngo pearls, we are very happy. With that, the new craft village will continue to have the opportunity to maintain and develop in the future”!