SET OF DECORATIVE MOTIF ON MOON CAKE MOLDS

SET OF DECORATIVE MOTIFS ON

MOON CAKE
MOLDS

SET OF DECORATIVE MOTIF ON MOON CAKE MOLDS

Cultural motifs are always favourite topic of VAN•HOA.

In Mid-autumn Festival 2023, VAN•HOA invites you to discover some of familiar motifs which can be seen on this occasion.

*Uncle Pham Van Quang

Artist makes moon cake molds

Cultural continuity through the artisan making moon cake molds

Though the moon cake plastic mold is on trend these days, there is

an artisan like Mr. Pham Van Quang. He has made and sold the traditional moon cake molds for over 40 years.

Mr Quang owns a small shop at 59 Hang Quat, located in Old Quarter, Hanoi. He is the owner, the seller and also the artisan. Throughout his career, he has made thousands molds but he hasn’t had any favorite work. In his opinion, the motif on mold is culture passed down by Vietnamese ancestor: “Each sentence of the ancients has a meaning. I can understand then I do it. I do and then I will explain to client. If I explain well the things I like to them. When this is suitable for them, they will hire me to do it."

TRADITIONAL MOTIFS
ON MOON CAKE

Moon cakes are meaningful not only the sophisticated way of making, the flavor, but also the motifs on the cake that are used intentionally. According to Mr. Quang's share, each pattern such as lotus, daisy, carp... on the moon cake has a different meaning. That pattern is the summary of Vietnamese ancestors about nature, society, people, representing good and sincere wishes, carrying the thoughts of the person giving the cake to the recipient.

Different from the precision but stereotype of plastic molds, hand-carved wooden molds still have a beauty filled with love from the artisans hands-on techniques, combined with natural wood grain streaks, to create vivid patterns on the surface of fragrant dough.

Below, VAN•HOA summarized 4 patterns in the treasure trove of moon cake mold patterns by artisan Pham Van Quang.

DAISY PATTERN

Blooming in the autumn, daisy is considered a symbolic flower of the season, especially associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Daisy consists of many small petals tightly intertwined, representing solidarity, strength and longevity. Daisy motifs are widely used to make moon cake molds, a wish to live a hundred years and also show children's filial piety towards their parents.

"THỌ" LETTER PATTERN
("THỌ" MEANS LONGEVITY)

The Thọ-shaped moon cake mold pattern consists of 2 parts: the Thọ-shaped part in the middle and the outer edge. The word Thọ is the highlight of the mold, carved by the artist with a knife in large, symmetrical strokes. The surrounding border is a repetition of the same lines, arranged to form a circle surrounding the word Tho, carrying the meaning of fullness and wishes for the birth to live a hundred years, be healthy and happy.

APRICOT BLOSSOM PATTERN

The apricot blossom motif uses the word Thọ as the stamen. The petals are arranged in a square shape but still create a soft feeling. The cake mold with apricot blossom motifs combined with the small word Thọ in the middle adds more meaning to the moon cake. It conveys wishes of luck, prosperity and longevity.

LOTUS MOTIF

The lotus motif on the moon cake mold of artisan Pham Van Quang is shown in its most beautiful state - the lotus in full bloom. Soft, pure lotus petals are arranged in a circular shape surrounding the lotus base and seeds, meaning elegance, peace and completeness during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

APPLICATIONS ON PRODUCTS

Inspired by the patterns of artisan Pham Van Quang, VAN•HOA

hopes that these beauties will not only remain as memories of traditional products. They will have the opportunity to promote

and flourish in modern life.

Let's contemplate some of our experiments with imagining modern, interesting and familiar application methods - so that cultural values can be continued and developed.