Discovering the Ancient Buffalo Horn Craft Village

At Hathorway, we believe great product matters. We put meticulous thought into our designs, as well as our materials to ensure quality that is built to last, and uniqueness that showcases craft & authenticity. While we love all sorts of natural materials like wood, gems, and stones, our primary material is ethically-sourced buffalo horns.  

We won't go through all the details in this post, but we love buffalo horns because it is..

• a byproduct of waste 
• a chemical-free process
• an organic material
• a one-of-a-kind piece

You can read more in on our page about "Why wear buffalo horn jewelry & accessories." In fact, buffalo horns has been used to make handicrafts and home goods like cups and utensils for many years throughout Vietnam. 

We wanted to experience and learn more about this ancient craftsmanship, so we took a trip to Vietnam to visited the village that makes our horn earrings and horn necklaces pieces. Located just outside of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is he province of Hoa Binh; and in this province is a village known for making horn handicrafts for over 400 years, called Thuy Ung.

Hanoi, Vietnam map (Image from Vietnam Guide of Hanoi)

 

As you walk down the road and peek through the houses, there are piles of horn tubes in the front yards waiting to be turned into salad folks and spoons, bowls, combs, jewelry and even home decor.

 

Image from CNTraveler

 

These horn tubes are not only from  water buffaloes in Vietnam, but also are imported from Laos, Cambodia, and various countries in Africa.

 

Horn tubes to make horn jewelry and other handicrafts

At Hathorway, we don't source our designs to any sweatshop or factory. Instead, we work with one artisan family from Thuy Ong to create our horn pieces. 

The family works from the comfort of their own home, which gives them the flexibility to manage their own time, such as watching the kids, cooking dinner, and managing other household errands. And when the family gets busy with orders, they can easily call for help to other artisans in their village.

Let's take a look...

 

Vietnamese girl sorting horn plates by color.

For centuries, horn plates were cut by hand into its desired shape, however today these are cut using a CNC Machine.

Vietnamese artisan grinds each horn piece for a consistent thickness and to smooth the pieces.

Another girl polishes the pieces to obtain a beautiful shine.

Vietnamese woman artisan making horn jewelry jump rings.

 

It was a joy to take a look inside the home and workspace of this Vietnamese artisan family to see how it's made and to see who made it. And mostly in awe that this craft is passed down from generation to generation for over 400 years. 

When you purchase earrings, necklaces, rings, or bracelets from Hathorway, you are supporting these artisans, helping them to send their kids to school, and at the same time, you are helping them preserve their culture and craftsmanship. 

 

Radiate Beauty Inside and Out,

Jessica Phan