VOlUME 05 ISSUE 05 May 2026
Pham Tan Phuoc
Thu Dau Mot University, Ho Chi Minh City
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i5n34Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
This paper presents research findings on the characteristics of plastic language and decorative motifs on ceramic elephant stools in Vietnam during the half-century period from 1975 to 2025. Employing formal analysis, comparative analysis, and art-historical methods, the study surveyed and analyzed the system of formal characteristics, including structural form, decorative composition, linear rhythm, system of floral patterns, glaze color treatment, and expression techniques. The research results indicate that the plastic language of Vietnamese ceramic elephant stools in the study period both profoundly reflects the continuity of traditional aesthetic values and demonstrates significant transformations influenced by market mechanisms, international integration, and the evolving creative mindset of artisans. The system of decorative motifs on ceramic elephant stools exhibits diversity and richness, ranging from traditional ancient patterns (flowers, leaves, clouds, waves, mythical creatures) to Chinese characters, auspicious symbols, and contemporary variations. The study also highlights that the process of continuity and transformation is not linear but complex, interwoven with preservation and creation, local identity and foreign influences.
KEYWORDS:ceramic elephant stool, plastic language, decorative motifs, Vietnamese ceramic art, traditional patterns, continuity and transformation.
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Cite this Article:Phuoc, P. T. (2026). The Formal Visual Language and Decorative Motifs on Vietnamese Ceramic Elephant Pedestals (1975–2025): Continuity and Transformation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(5), 1225-1234. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i5n34