Sập
A sập that has been decorated with the khảm xà cừ technique.
Vietnamese alphabet	sập sập gỗ sập gụ
Chữ Nôm	𠙅 / 𥩰 𠙅楛 𠙅𣛡

A sập is a type of traditional furniture used in Vietnam.

Background

A sập is a low ornate platform that is often made out of wood. Some sập are decorated with lacquering technique known as khảm xà cừ (chữ Nôm: 坎𤥭璖).^[1] The platform has four stumped legs that support the main structure of the sập. The furniture is used as a place to sit or lay down.^[2] A mat is sometimes laid down for more comfort or during family meals on it.

High quality sập are highly valued in Vietnam. Nguyễn Văn Thưởng, an owner of a market, owns a sập valued to be around 1.5 billion đồng (approximately 61,783 dollars).^[3] The sập was made of high quality wood and was decorated with an elaborate design that includes the Four Holy Beasts.

Gallery

• 
  An orate sập with a mat on top of it in La Xuyên, Nam Định.
• 
  A sập khảm xà cừ with motifs of trees and its surroundings.
• 
  A sập with a lacquered cabinet.
• 
  A sập with a lacquered cabinet.
• 
  A private class at a home in Vietnam (1895). The students studying are sitting on a sập.
• 
  A family in Saigon eating together on top of a sập.
• 
  People in the Nguyễn dynasty with khăn vấn. The people in the back are sitting on a sập.

References