Chuon Ngo Mother of Pearl Inlay – The Ocean’s Light in Handcrafted Art
Chuon Ngo village (Hanoi) has long been renowned for its mother of pearl inlay a craft considered one of the most exquisite in Vietnamese fine handicrafts. What makes this art remarkable is the transformation of rough oyster and shell fragments from rivers and seas into iridescent, multicolored motifs on wooden objects.
The mother of pearl inlay process requires many meticulous stages. The craftsman first selects and treats oyster and shell pieces, thinning them into slices just a few millimeters thick. Next, the artisan sketches and engraves motifs directly onto the wooden surface, then skillfully cuts and fits the mother of pearl pieces tightly into the carved lines. Finally, repeated sanding and polishing allow the wood and inlay to merge seamlessly, creating a natural iridescence.
This technique requires not only skillful hands but also a refined aesthetic eye. Each piece of mother-of-pearl is arranged to reflect light precisely as intended, bringing the artwork to life sometimes depicting tranquil village scenes, other times flowers, birds, or the symbolic Four Divine Beasts and Four Noble Plants representing wealth and longevity.
Each Chuon Ngo mother of pearl inlay piece is not merely a decorative object but a harmony of art, cultural symbolism, and the artisan’s dedication. Viewed through a modern lens, it embodies the Vietnamese way of preserving the light of the sea within every wooden line, passing this heritage of craftsmanship across generations.
