In this chapter, we study furniture in depth in order to better estimate their precise origin and carry out accurate dating. “SUNG SUN I” BANDAJI. This piece of furniture, bought in China in the mid-90s, probably came from North Korea. In the late ’80s, many pieces circulated between North Korea and China via the northern […]
Hwanghae Do province was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju. The regional name for the province was Haeseo. In 1395, the province was organized as Punghae (풍해도; 豐海道; Punghae-do). In 1417, it was renamed Hwanghae. The name derived from the names of the two principal cities of Hwangju (황주; 黃州) and Haeju (해주; 海州). In 1945, Korea was divided into Soviet and American zones […]
“Nobody knows quite when the candlestick or lantern first appeared on the Korean Peninsula, but the archaeological record provides fascinating insight. The earliest-known candlestick found in digs dates back to the end of the Unified Silla (668-935) period. But a magnificent, 25.5 centimeter pair of what at first glance seems to be a pair of […]
The Bandaji, known as a blanket chest in the West, is likely the most prevalent type of Korean clothing chest from the Joseon Dynasty. Its front is divided into two parts, with the upper half designed to open and close. The name “Bandaji“ is derived from the Korean words “Ban,” meaning “half,” and “Daji,” meaning […]
There are numerous auction houses in Korea; however, it’s challenging to monitor them online. Consequently, we only focus on tracking the primary auction houses located in Seoul. I AUCTION. Haksan building, 50 Samil Daero 30-gil, Jongno Gu. Seoul. LINK: I AUCTION K AUCTION. 23 Eonju-ro 172-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. NOVEMBER 2022 DECEMBER 2022 JANUARY […]
Mother-of-pearl, also known as nacre, is an inorganic composite material produced by certain mollusks as an inner shell layer, and accumulated in other shells, such as freshwater pearl mussels, in the form of pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent. It can be found in strains of mollusks in the class of “Bivalvia“, such as […]
TRADITION & INSIGHT EXHIBITION. JJ ART. 16 Insa-dong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Baekak Museum of Art, 1st floor. May 23, to June 23, 2017. NATIONAL FOLK MUSEUM OF KOREA. Najeon, Glimmer & Shine. May 19, 2023 ~ August 27, 2023. Najeon is a decorative technique that involves using mother-of-pearl from the shells of abalones, conchs, and […]
Apothecaries, also known as medicine chests, featuring numerous pullout drawers, were utilized during the Middle Ages in both Europe and the Far East by predecessors of our modern pharmacists. The exact origins of medicine usage in Korea remain unknown; nevertheless, since ancient times, there was a necessity to classify and store the materials required for […]
This type of furniture is commonly found in Pyongyang, the current capital city of North Korea. Pyongyang has been a center of economic and cultural influence since the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). The climate in the area is characterized by very cold winters and hot, dry summers. They are quite easy to recognize due to their […]
THE KOREAN KITCHEN. To better understand the main features of Korean kitchen furniture, it is necessary to examine the design of the Korean kitchen during the Joseon dynasty. “The kitchen “Puok” was usually connected to the women’s inner room by a storage area called “Tarak-bang”. Found at a lower level than the women’s inner room, […]