86-year old artisan Nguyen Van Quyen from Dan Vien village, Cao Vien commune in Hanoi’s outskirts district of Thanh Oai, is one of a few artisans mastering the art of making ‘den keo quan’ – a type of traditional revolving lanterns with ornamental figures of humans, animals, and landscapes stuck on the cellophane cover. These handmade lanterns, having a hexagon-shape frame made from bamboo, can revolve thank to the thermal convection caused by a candle burnt inside to create lively images. They are one of popular traditional toys for children during every mid-Autumn festival. Falling in love with the craft art since his childhood, Quyen learned skills from his father and devotes his whole life to preserving the craft. Despite low earnings, Quyen and his family members still continue making lanterns in every mid-Autumn, and try to pass their experiences and skills to young generations as ways to keep the craft alive.
Source: Vietnam News Agency