Review: 80110 Lunar New Year Display
Posted by Huw,
LEGO's push into the Chinese market has yielded an extraordinary variety of exceptional models that would not have been made otherwise.
80110 Lunar New Year Display is the smallest of two new additions to the range that will be released soon, and it's unlike any set that has gone before.
Summary
80110 Lunar New Year Display, 872 pieces.
£69.99 / $89.99 / €79.99 | 8.0p/10.3c/9.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Wonderfully elaborate and decorative display pieces
- Absorbing building experience
- No expense spared
- Niche subject matter
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
New parts and prints
There are no stickers in this set: everything's printed which is perhaps surprising given that there are eight different 3x3 tile designs that are unlikely to have utility in official sets beyond this one. I'll explain what they mean later on.
This 'butterfly tile', 6420457 is appearing here for the first time, although I suspect it was designed for Friends or Disney sets. That said, I can't see it in photos of the January releases.
The completed model
The display consists of two 18-stud square ornaments, which I'm guessing are designed to look like pieces that might already be found on Chinese mantelpieces.
They are predominantly red with gold flourishes around the border and inside. Standing them on a corner elevates them from being boring to looking much more dynamic.
They were designed by John Ho who helpfully provided information about their meaning and symbolism in the instructions, which I will refer to here.
The four tiles on the first one to be built spell out "ushering in wealth and prosperity" and that has been used as the theme for its decoration. It features two gold ingots in a traditional Yuan Bau design, Koi carp, and two red packets which of course crop up everywhere in Chinese Traditional Festival sets.
The carp are cleverly constructed using few pieces, including a hinge and a heart tile.
The greeting on the second one is "the richness of being in full flower". The large and beautiful pink flower is a Moutan peony and among the pieces used to create its delicate petals are shell plates and the newly introduced bird dropping/water splash, both cast in pink.
Technic pieces mounted at various angles form the branches and stems of the surrounding yellow flowers, and it all looks very organic.
Construction
There's not a lot to say about how it's built other than it's straightforward and varied.
Two pins on the corners mate with holes in the base -- which is built at 45 degrees -- to hold them securely.
Verdict
The pair of ornaments look exquisite, but I think their appeal is likely to be limited in the west given that there are no minifigs and the meaning of the inscriptions and associated symbolism is not well known outside Chinese communities. Nevertheless, I am happy that we have the opportunity buy the set should we wish to.
However, with just 872-pieces, about half of that in 80111 Lunar New Year Parade, it does not seem as good value as the larger set, costing just £20/$30 less ($89.99, £69.99 and €79.99).
Even so, if you're looking for something different this set may well fit the bill. It contains a great selection of pieces, and offers a solid and varied building experience which yields two very attractive and well-designed ornaments.
It'll be available at LEGO.com from Christmas day in Europe and 10th January in North America.
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32 comments on this article
Very nice. Interesting sculptural attributes. Will definitely be picking these up at some point.
Intriguing to hear the petal part described as 'bird dropping/water splash.' I'm pretty sure it originated as a broken egg.
@StyleCounselor said:
"Very nice. Interesting sculptural attributes. Will definitely be picking these up at some point.
Intriguing to hear the petal part described as 'bird dropping/water splash.' I'm pretty sure it originated as a broken egg."
It's only just being used as an egg. It originates in City fire sets I believe.
The butterfly piece itself is not new (it originated in the Encanto sets last year, and has appeared in Friends and Super Mario this year), but the print is! It's exciting to see it printed because I had hoped its smooth surface would allow different wing patterns to be added in the future.
@Lyichir said:
"The butterfly piece itself is not new (it originated in the Encanto sets last year, and has appeared in Friends and Super Mario this year), but the print is! It's exciting to see it printed because I had hoped its smooth surface would allow different wing patterns to be added in the future."
Interesting, thanks. Set designer John Ho claims it's a 'brand new LEGO element, unique to this set' in the preface to the instructions.
Always excellent parts and prints in the chicom sets. Definitely will pick these up. Great parts pack.
@Huw said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Very nice. Interesting sculptural attributes. Will definitely be picking these up at some point.
Intriguing to hear the petal part described as 'bird dropping/water splash.' I'm pretty sure it originated as a broken egg."
It's only just being used as an egg. It originates in City fire sets I believe."
60315 as an egg splat 60314 as an ice cream splat. Are these the first two?
It doesn't matter to me what the symbols mean, I liked the set purely on how it looks. The flower is particularly appealing, i prefer this over the larger set and I'm not bothered by the lack of minifigures. This is most appealing set of the theme for this year for me.
Looks amazing and great prints! Nice build and part usage.
I dunno. At first this was my favourite of the new year's sets, but seeing it up close it loses the wow factor. I think I will pass on this year's Chinese New Year offerings and save my money and display space for what may come our way later in the year.
It feels quite expensive for what you get, but I find it very attractive regardless.
Will wait for a discount though.
Really love the Chinese new year sets, and this one is no different. However I’m gonna be honest I’d be way more inclined to buy this if this was a single pack for £35 and not a double pack for £70. I suppose this comes down to the monkie kid argument where the east has more disposable income, and apparently they like to have everything they need in a single box (that’s why wave one monkie kid sets had so much in them and where so expensive, like the inferno truck having the truck but also a panda store and tuktuk side build). I still really love these sets, and I hope to see many more in the future
@Huw. Sorry for the hijacking but this is somewhat related - any news/pictures/timeline of 40605?
Nice reviews as always. This one is not for me but I will get the parade cars.
I was sure I'd seen the butterfly before, it's part 80674 and I came across it in 41703 in two colours, but it wasn't printed.
The printed version is lovely, I hope it springs up in other sets too. The koi are great too.
I do like the peony, the set as a whole doesn't appeal though.
Great partpacks <3
Unique and beautiful. My first must-have since Optimus Prime!
these are really beautiful. Its kind of like some of the botanical sets where if you didn't know it was LEGO it would surprise you when you got close.
That being said, tho, the price is a bit much for me, as appealing as they are.
Looking at that peony, all I can think is, "Let this man design a Botanical set!"
This is an exquisite reproduction of what I recall being pretty but relatively cheap new year's displays. It says something - I'm not sure what - that Lego was able to replicate the feel of cheap plastic gold via expensive plastic gold.
In short, because I am familiar with the source material, I find it kind of humorous that they gave cheap nostalgia this big glow-up. It's like, you know, recreating Optimus Prime in Lego.
Why prints instead of stickers in this set and not in the Parade set though? That’s still a bit of a bummer for me.
@Huw said:
" @Lyichir said:
"The butterfly piece itself is not new (it originated in the Encanto sets last year, and has appeared in Friends and Super Mario this year), but the print is! It's exciting to see it printed because I had hoped its smooth surface would allow different wing patterns to be added in the future."
Interesting, thanks. Set designer John Ho claims it's a 'brand new LEGO element, unique to this set' in the preface to the instructions."
Perhaps it was designed for this set, but was quickly snatched up by other designers to use on their projects!
@Huw said:
" @Lyichir said:
"The butterfly piece itself is not new (it originated in the Encanto sets last year, and has appeared in Friends and Super Mario this year), but the print is! It's exciting to see it printed because I had hoped its smooth surface would allow different wing patterns to be added in the future."
Interesting, thanks. Set designer John Ho claims it's a 'brand new LEGO element, unique to this set' in the preface to the instructions."
Usually when designers say "element" they're talking about the particular combination of mold design, color and printing (hence the seven-digit "element ID" for a particular part versus the broader four or five-digit "design ID" for all of its color variations). Either way it's a lovely part!
Being Chinese myself, I really like these decorations because I used to see a lot of similar decorations as these back in my hometown. I might get this as a New Year's gift for my grandma when I return to visit her for the New Year.
(plus I can build one part of it for her and enjoy the building experience)
You know there are over 5 million Chinese Americans living in the US right? So the market appeal might be a little different from what you imagine. In any case it's a lovey design and very nice to see this aesthetic growing in the LEGO portfolio.
I just want the fish.
@Huw:
Egg in 60315, solid colors in 60314, 60319, 60320, 60321, 60353, and 60355. All seven of these sets were released on January 1st, so it's really difficult to say which set(s) they were created for. My gut says you're right, just because it's used in two Fire sets, two Police sets, and one Fire/Police set.
Beautiful set with beautiful parts, but even being Chinese myself I can't stomach the regular retail price of this; I'll need to wait for a hefty discount.
Absolutely gonna order them the first chance I get. The price is a bit on the high side, but it's worth it for me. I can never have enough asia-themed sets in my collection :)
Absolutely superb. Price is a little steep but not excessively so, considering the number of unique printed parts. Looking forward to getting all three on Dec 25th.
I suspect waiting will more likely result in being sold out than discounts.
A well done set, LEGO working the extra mile to captivate the Asian market. I just want for the other markets to not be left out.
@Galaktek said:
"You know there are over 5 million Chinese Americans living in the US right? So the market appeal might be a little different from what you imagine. In any case it's a lovey design and very nice to see this aesthetic growing in the LEGO portfolio."
Exactly. And, oh, another 1.4+ billion all around the world
It's a bit pricy, but I'll still get it because I love it. And when it inevitably goes on sale later on, I may grab another.
So far it's been a hard pass for me on the LEGO flowers, because - well, I think they're boring.
But this flower is just lovely, dang.
@Padmewan:
And all the other non-Chinese cultures that also celebrate Lunar New Year.