Box thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Box

1750-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Lacquer is the sap from the tree Rhus verniciflua that grows mainly in East Asia. After processing it is applied in many thin layers to a base material. The earliest extant Korean lacquer objects come from a burial site in South Kyongsang Province, dated to the first century BC.
The design on this lacquered box formed by a mother-of-pearl inlay is of vine leaves, grapes and squirrels. The box is reinforced at the corners by brass bars, and it has a hinged lid. The lock plate is engraved with scrolling foliage. It is likely to have contained documents. It dates from the end of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Box
  • Box
Materials and techniques
Lacquered wood, with mother-of-pearl inlay and brass fittings
Brief description
Box with hinged lid. Storage box.
Physical description
The design formed by mother-of-pearl inlay is of vine leaves, grapes and squirrels. This box is reinforced at the corners by brass bars and has a hinged lid. The lock plate is engraved with scrolling foliage. It is likely that this box was a document container.
Colour: Brown
Dimensions
  • Fe.2 1 1983 depth: 22.5cm
  • Fe.2 1 1983 width: 40.9cm
  • Fe.2 1 1983 height: 22.5cm
  • Fe.2 2 1983 length: 44cm
  • Fe.2 2 1983 depth: 25.4cm
  • Fe.2 2 1983 height: 22cm
Style
Subjects depicted
Summary
Lacquer is the sap from the tree Rhus verniciflua that grows mainly in East Asia. After processing it is applied in many thin layers to a base material. The earliest extant Korean lacquer objects come from a burial site in South Kyongsang Province, dated to the first century BC.
The design on this lacquered box formed by a mother-of-pearl inlay is of vine leaves, grapes and squirrels. The box is reinforced at the corners by brass bars, and it has a hinged lid. The lock plate is engraved with scrolling foliage. It is likely to have contained documents. It dates from the end of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910).
Bibliographic references
  • Beth McKillop. Korean Art and Design. London: V&A, 1992. 72.
  • Korean Lacquer Art : Aesthetic Perfection, Exhibition at Museum fur Lackkunst Munchen from 28 October 2012 to 27 January 2013, Hirmer, 2012, pp. 131. Cat no 15.
Other number
FE.84:3-1974 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
FE.2:1, 2-1983

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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