The dawn of the Golden Horse

by Timothée Père in Beyond The Fold

A design story. This Lunar New Year 2026 limited edition of Sunrise Dreams was designed and planned, then postponed. It has not been released and is not for sale. Here is how we designed it.

 

 

Longma's awakening

There is an ancient rhythm to the turning of the year, a transition that moves beyond the mere flipping of a calendar page. It's a moment where the atmosphere itself seems to thicken with intention. In the Sunrise Dreams landscape, the quiet, silvery dawn of winter begins to catch a new light: a flicker of intense red and the steady, warm glow of matte gold.


Designing for the 2026 Lunar New Year, we weren't simply swapping colours; we wanted to invite a resolute energy into our living spaces. In this design, Speeon, the deer of the quiet woods, steps aside for a creature of celestial momentum.

 

The spirit of Longma: where Earth meets Sky

To understand the 2026 Sunrise Dreams Limited Edition we designed, one must understand the Longma (龙马), or "Dragon-Horse". In classical Chinese mythology, the Longma is a fabled winged creature, a horse with the scales of a dragon that emerged from the Yellow River to reveal the map of the universe. It represents a perfect harmony: the grounded, tireless strength of the Horse combined with the celestial, protective power of the Dragon.


The design places the Golden Horse in the valley and the Red Dragon around the sun, recreating this ancient symbol of an invincible spirit. For the person you love, seeing these two figures together is a profound wish for their health and success ('lóng mǎ jīng shén'). It suggests that in the coming year, they will have both the wings to dream and the hooves to reach their destination.

 

Red fire of the heart

In the FOLDORI atelier, Maïa spent months selecting the ideal Intense Red for this edition. Not the red of a christmas ribbon; rather the red of Chidan (赤胆), the "vermilion heart" representing absolute sincerity and courage.


Historically, this hue evokes the vitality of the sun at its peak. The trees and shadows of this set were designed to build a sanctuary of warmth. In a cross-cultural home, this color acts as a silent guardian. It honors the tradition of warding off the shadows of the past year while inviting the "fire" of prosperity to illuminate the future. It's a visual promise that the home will always be a place filled with light and energy.


Matte Gold, the resonance of steady wealth

While many seek the brilliance of polished gold, we proudly selected a Matte Gold to represent the Horse and the Dragon in this 2026 Lunar New Year's Limited Edition. We draw from the aesthetic of Jinshi (金石), the enduring beauty of gold and stone.


In Chinese philosophy, true prosperity isn't loud or fleeting, but steady and structural. The matte finish allows the viewer to appreciate the basics of paper engineering: the cuts, engravings, folds, and geometry. It reflects a sophisticated understanding that the most valuable things in life are those built with careful, deliberate hands. It's the gold of an heirloom, meant to be looked at closely and cherished over time.

 

An act of Yuanfen

There's a beautiful concept called Yuanfen (缘分): the mysterious force that draws two people together across different worlds. We designed the assembly of this Limited Edition as an act of Yuanfen.


When you take the time to navigate the intricate design of the Red Dragon coiled around the sun, you're engaging in a form of active appreciation. You're showing that you don't just celebrate the LNY from the sidelines; you're willing to immerse yourself in the cultural symbols, colours, and stories. To a partner, the sight of a hand-assembled Golden Horse is more than a gift; it's a recognition of the shared destiny that brought your two worlds into one red-and-gold frame.

 

 

Maïa, FOLDORI's fictional art-direction companion, choosing between three paper colours

In our design, the Golden Horse's posture is one of 'the gallop toward the East'. In the classics, the horse is the only creature that never tires when pursuing the sun. Placing this new character was meant to anchor a symbol of tireless devotion in your home.

This edition is postponed for now. The Sunrise Dreams Classic Set is open for pre-order, with estimated shipping in April 2027.

Tags: Chinese culture art Chinese new year gifts Chinese zodiac symbolism Interior design DIY Masters of craft Mindful living Year of the horse 2026
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