Mid 19th century. Gyeonggi province. This chest consists of two identical storage units. Each unit is made of pine, with a center door made from zelkova (a variety of elm that grows in southern Korea). The brass plate at the center of each door is a stylized representation of the magic pulloch’o fungus (a symbol of longevity). Cabinets like these were used by upper-class families to store items such as seasonal clothing for long periods of time.
H. 109,9cm, W. 80,5cm, D. 39,5cm.
Collection Museum of Art Philadelphia. USA.
Nong- 이층농 in Korean is used to define a stackable clothing chest. The name has been used since the Goryeo Dynasty. Nong originally did not have legs, but later on, a leg part, called madae (馬臺), was attached to it.
In the beginning, Korean furniture tended to be small, light, and plain, with minimal decoration such as carvings or paint.
In a traditional Korean house, rooms were small, and ceilings were low. Korean people sat on the floor to take advantage of the floor heating system called “ondol“.
In the “Hanok” (Korean traditional house) during the Joseon dynasty, three types of clothing chests were used. The “Bandaji”, the “Jang” and the “Nong”.
The “Nong“, a two-unit stacked chest, features a slender frame and is constructed with thin wooden panels, making it convenient to move thanks to its side handles. Sometimes referred to as “Jang Nong”, this piece of furniture always consists of two identical box units stacked on top of each other on a stand. The term “Nong” is also known as an “Ich’ung nong“, where “I” signifies two and “ch’ung” indicates level. Each level of the nong has double center doors. Generally, the two boxes that make up the nong are identical and can be interchanged as the top and bottom, with the stand being removable in such cases. Some nong also feature small drawers across the upper compartment.
Paulownia wood, which is lightweight and resistant to moths, was primarily used as the main material, but black persimmon and zelkova woods were also frequently utilized.
In the late Joseon Dynasty, nongs were used for travel or transportation and therefore had handles on both sides.
Older pieces were very simple, with minimal decoration and metalwork. The metalwork was primarily used to reinforce the frail structure. The attached photos show examples of these early pieces. These simple and plain items were typically used in men’s quarters, known as the “Sarangbang“.
Two units stacked chest, Paulownia wood, iron fittings. Oil finish. Legs restored. Mid 19th century. Gyeonggi province.
H. 112cm, W. 77cm, D. 39cm.
Collection: “ANTIKASIA”.
Two units stacked chest, Paulownia wood, iron fittings. Oil finish. Legs restored. Mid 19th century.. Gyeonggi province.
H. 112cm, W. 77cm, D. 39cm.
This illustration shows you how the box were placed on top of each other. Collection “ANTIKASIA”
“ICH’UNG NONG”. Black lacquer with mother-of-pear inlay. Yellow brass fittings.
H. 92cm, W. 85cm, D. 38,5cm. Legs missing. Collection: Seoul Museum of History.
In the beginning, Nong had very simple designs with minimal decoration and were primarily used in poor households and men’s quarters. In the mid to late 19th century, their production increased, and their designs were modified.
Two units stacked chest, Bamboo inlay on wood, yellow brass fittings. Late Joseon dynasty.
Collection: Duksung Women’s University Museum.
The surface of the front of this piece has been crafted by inlaying small pieces of bamboo in a mosaic pattern. The tortoiseshell pattern is clearly visible on the front of the double doors.
“ICH’UNG NONG”
Two units stacked chest, Pear & paulownia wood, yellow brass fittings. H. 116cm, W. 72cm, D. 38cm. Gyeonggi Do province. Photos courtesy of INDIGO Antiques.
Pieces became larger in size and more decorated. They became a common chest in the women’s quarters, known as the “Anchae“. Some were painted, covered with skin, or paper, and highly prized woods were also used. By the late 19th century, the use of inlays such as mother of pearl increased. The attached photos in this post illustrate these modifications.
WOOD IS BEAUTIFUL
Initially, attention was devoted to the beauty of the wood grain, with wood itself serving as the primary decorative element.
Pinewood body (top, sides & back), Pearwood doors frame, Elm wood roots doors panels. Yellow brass fittings.
Late 19th century. Gyeonggi province.
H. 105cm, W. 85cm, D. 40cm.
Collection “ANTIKASIA“.
Bamboo slat on wood, yellow brass fittings, oil finish. Early 20th century.
H. 93cm, W. 75cm, D. 40cm.
Pine and elm wood. Iron fittings.
H 100cm, W. 75cm, D. 38cm.
Pine and ash wood, Yellow brass fittings. Early 20th century.
H. 110cm, W. 80cm, D. 38cm.
Pine, paulownia and elm wood, yellow brass fittings.
H. 127cm, W. 90cm, D. 41cm.
Collection National Museum of Korea.
Pine and persimmon wood, Yellow brass fittings. Early 20th century. H. 130cm, W. 92cm, D. 40cm.
Private collection.
Pine, persimmon wood, yellow brass fittings, oil finish.
H 130cm, W. 85cm, D. 40cm.
Paulownia and pine wood body, ash wood front panels, zelkova wood frame, persimmon wood inlaid,
yellow brass fittings. Early 19th century. Gyeonggi province
H. 123cm, W. 80cm, D. 39cm. Collection “ANTIKASIA”
Pine wood with a center door made from zelkova.
Yellow brass fittings. 19th century.
H. 110cm, W. 80,5cm, D. 39,5cm.
Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Pine and persimmon wood. White brass fittings.
Late 19th century.
H. 121,5cm, W. 82cm, D. 38cm.
Photo courtesy of Koreanart 21 Auction House, Seoul, Korea.
Fine Korean Nong. Zelkova wood, yellow brass fittings. H. 123cm, W. 82cm, D, 42cm.
Private collection in Korea.
Unidentified wood, yellow brass fittings.
H. 120cm, W. 85cm, D. 43cm.
Private collection in Korea.
H. 98,9cm, W. 50,5cm, D. 40cm.
Collection: National Museum of Korea. Seoul.
H. 81cm, W. 41cm, D. 33,4cm.
Collection: Andong City Folk Museum, Korea.
Persimmon wood. Yellow brass fittings.
Late 19th c to early 20th century.
Height 128cm, length 79,3cm, width 41cm.
Collection: Daegu University Central Museum. Korea.
Collection: National Folk Museum, Seoul.
Collection: National Folk Museum, Seoul.
Elm & pine wood, yellow brass fittings. Late Joseon dynasty.
Collection: Dong-A University Seokdang Museum, Seoul.
Persimmon & pine wood, yellow brass fittings. Late Joseon dynasty.
Collection: Jeju National Museum
Elm & pine woods, yellow brass fittings.
Private collection.
Collection: National Daegu Museum
ABUNDANCE OF METAL
In some cases, hinges and metal decorations take precedence.
H. 162cm, W. 83cm, D. 44cm.
Collection: Old Story Antique Furniture, Korea.
The ten symbols of longevity are carved throughout. You can see patterns of birds, trees, and animals engraved on brass fittings.
Elm wood, white brass fittings.
20th century.
H. 107cm, W. 66cm, D. 35cm.
Linden wood, white brass fittings. Late 19th century. Pyongyang city.
Pyongan Do province.
H. 138cm, W. 82cm, D. 45cm. Former Collection “ANTIKASIA”
H. 125cm, W. 80cm, D. 42cm.
Private collection.
Zelkova wood, white brass fittings. legs on both pieces have been added to allow to use the boxes separately.
Collection: National Folk Museum. Korea.
LACQUER IS A MUST
Black or colored lacquer is a main element in the finishing of the furniture.
Red lacquer on wood (probably paulownia wood), yellow brass fittings. Gyeonggi Province, Korea.
Mid 19th century.
H. 134 cm, W. 74 cm, D. 40 cm.
Very unusual red lacquered chest. The red lacquer is a mixture of cinnabar and iron oxide pigments. The metalwork on this piece for an upper-class women’s quarter (anbang) displays forms considered to be symbols of felicity and joy. The decorative pullers are bats, and the hinges and locks are butterflies.
Red lacquer on wood. Yellow brass fittings. Gyeonggi province.
H. 70cm, W. 83cm, D. 40cm.
Collection: Weisman Museum of Art. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Lacquered wood, with mother-of-pearl inlay.
H. 142,1cm, W. 83,9cm, D. 38cm. Collection Victoria and Albert Museum. London. UK
Lacquer on wood with tortoise shell inlay.
H. 143,5cm, W. 82cm, D. 46,2cm.
Photo courtesy K Auction Korea.
H. 130cm, W. 70cm, D. 35cm.
Collection: National Palace Museum, Seoul, Korea.
THE ART OF INLAYING
The Koreans used a very old technique of inlaying mother of pearl or tortoise shell.
Two section lacquered chest on stand decorated with images of dragons and phoenix, inlaid with tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, and shagreen.
Late 19th, early 20th century.
H. 116,8cm, W. 79,3cm, D. 40 cm.
The front of the chest is inlaid with mother-of-pearl (except for the back), and the upper and lower parts have the doors which are decorated with the same design.
19th century.
Collection Korean National Maritime Museum.
Paulownia wood. Doors inlaid with mother pf pearl. Yellow brass design. 19th century. Collection Korean National Museum.
Red lacquer and mother of pearl inlay.
Late 19th century. Collection Victoria and Albert Museum.
Red lacquer was strictly confined to royal usage but became more widely available in the 20th century.
H. 148cm, W. 77cm, D. 43 cm. Collection: Musées royaux d’art et d’histoire. Belgium.
Paulownia wood covered with a black lacquer. Mother of pear and tortoise shell inlay representing a dragon facing a phoenix.
Private Collection.
Yellow brass fittings.
H. 120cm, W. 80cm, D. 40cm.
H. 132cm, W. 78cm, D. 44cm.
Collection: National Folk Museum, Korea,
As mentioned by “Daemojang“, the director of the Folklore Museum, judging by the shape of the hinge, the age does not seem to be very old. Probably dating from the first half of the 20th century. This chest could have been made for the royal family.
Collection: National Museum of Korea.
Geometrical mother of pearl inlaid black lacquer cabinet. Yellow brass fittings in the shape of butterflies.
19th to 20th century. H. 79cm, W. 116cm, D. 39cm.
Sold by Christie’s in 2020.
Two-tier Clothing Chest with Tortoise Shell Design in Mother-of-pearl Inlay.
Each door is adorned with a stylized Chinese character representing “Longevity”.
The “Taegeuk” motif is display on the locks over a central flower design lock plate.
Fine yellow brass fittings in the “swallowtail” design.
Black lacquer on pine wood. H. 114,7cm.
Dated early 20th century.
Collection “Ewha” Woman’s University, Seoul, Korea.
Collection Musee Guimet, Paris, France.
Pair of Nong covered with mother-of-pearl and wire inlay.
H. 133cm, W. 154cm, D. 38cm.
Collection National Museum of Korea.
H. 156cm, W. 79cm, D. 42cm.
Collection: Kyungwoon Museum, Gyeonggi Do. Korea.
This is a two-tiered chest adorned with a pair of phoenixes and a pair of black tortoises, splendidly expressed in mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell throughout the chest from top to bottom. The upper part features a central Yeouiju with phoenixes arranged on the left and right sides. The borders are elegantly filled with clouds and the long tails of phoenixes.
The lower part symmetrically showcases two black tortoises in mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Below them, the sea, lotus flowers, a yin yang symbol, and strange rocks are depicted, creating an extraordinary appearance. The lower part is integrated with a pedestal-shaped leg and footrest, ensuring stability. The craftsman’s ingenuity shines through in the depiction of the phoenix and black tortoise embracing the circular front like beads.
On the sides, phoenixes face the Yeouiju on both tiers, their tails beautifully spread across the entire structure. The legs, featuring bat-shaped wind holes, also display flower patterns in mother-of-pearl.
H. 113,5cm, W. 81,4cm, D. 40,5cm.
Collection: National Folk Museum, Seoul.
Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay with longevity symbol and auspicious character design. Late 19th century.
H. 45-1/8 x W. 32-1/2 x D. 17 inches (H. 114.8 x W. 82.7 x D. 43.3 cm).
Collection: the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon.
SHAGREEN, “GALUCHAT”, OR PAPER ON WOOD
Furniture is completely or partially covered with leather or traditional paper.
Antique shagreen stacking cabinet. 19th century.
H. 93cm, L. 61cm, D. 36cm.
Beige & green shagreen inlay signs of double happiness on the doors.
Private Collection.
Two-level stacked chest covered with shagreen. Each section fitted with two doors and brass escutcheons, hinges and brackets.
H. 44,5cm. Joseon dynasty, 19th century.
Sold by Christie’s, New York. October 23, 2022.
Two-level stacked chest covered with paper.
Colored paper on pine wood, iron fittings
H. 86,4cm, W. 52cm, D. 26cm.
DATE after 1910. Collection: Weisman Museum of Art. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Two-level stacked chest covered with paper.
Oiled paper, pine, iron fittings
H. 85cm, W. 70cm, D. 37cm. DATE circa 1900.
Collection Weisman Museum of Art. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
UNIQUE PIECE COVERED WITH EMBROIDERY.
Nong with embroidered panels. Korea, 19th century.
This embroidered chest is said to have been produced for the “garye” (wedding) of Queen Sunwon, who was the wife of Sunjo, the 23rd king of the Joseon dynasty. The ten traditional symbols of longevity were embroidered on the door, and on the lower part of the chest, lotus flower and mandarin duck designs were embroidered to wish the couple happiness and many children.
Collection: Sookmyung Women’s University Museum, Seoul. Korea.
CONTEMPORARY PIECES
The reinvented tradition.
Steel, Aluminum, Acrylic. H. 127cm, W. 92cm, D. 44cm. Artist: Kim Honey.
[…] Nong consists of two stackable boxes of equal sizes. Each level is equipped with a front […]