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Box
Unknown - Enlarge image
Box
- Place of origin:
Korea (made)
- Date:
1800-1850 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Lacquered wood, with mother-of-pearl inlay and brass
- Credit Line:
Given by Sir Harry Garner
- Museum number:
FE.84:1, 2-1974
- Gallery location:
Korea, room 47g, case 2
The sides and lid of this lacquered box are decorated with a lotus design of mother-of-pearl inlay. The flowers on the front panel and lid are joined to a small tortoiseshell flowerpot by a stem made of twisted brass wire. Auspicious symbols adorn the side of the lid. The box dates from the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), and was probably made in the 19th century.
During the Choson period lacquer was used predominantly on boxes and furniture, such as chests, low tables, clothes boxes, cosmetics cases, document boxes and sewing utensils. Many were inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell and sometimes sharkskin. In general, the motifs tend appear more robust than those on lacquer wares of the Koryo period (918-1392AD) which can be characterised by their fine floral designs arranged in delicately inlaid mother-of-pearl.
