SMALL WOODEN ACCESSORIES & TOOLS.

TONGGAGBAN – 통각반: Round tray-tables.

Tonggagban also called Jegi 제기 (祭器) refers to a variety of vessels and tools used in ancestral rites. These items can be made from various materials, including wood, porcelain, and brass. In shrines, ceremonial vessels made of porcelain or brass were mainly used. Wooden jegi were commonly used in graveyards due to their lightweight nature, which made them easy to carry.

Since ancestral rite vessels were dedicated to ancestors, they were treated with great care and not used in daily life. After the ceremony, they were cleaned thoroughly and stored in the ancestral rites storage (祭器庫) of the ancestral shrine or in a specially made wooden box. Additionally, they were neither sold nor lent to others. When the vessels could no longer be used, they were buried in the ground and not repurposed for any other use.

In the late Joseon Dynasty, wooden jegi began to be used at home as well, as noted in the writings of Song Si-yeol.

Namwon, located in Jeollabuk-do, is renowned in Korea for producing high-quality wooden jegi. Drawing on the abundant wood that grew naturally at the foot of Mt. Jiri, combined with the craftsmen’s exquisite woodworking skills and lacquering techniques, the region became the center of Korea’s finest wooden ceremonial vessel industry.

Namwon jegi is lacquered, giving it a vibrant color and exceptional durability. Its lacquer coating prevents discoloration even after prolonged use, earning it a reputation as the finest quality jegi in the country.

Jegi were also produced in the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do. The top plate is circular, and the legs are shaped like barrels, tapering narrower towards the top.

Link: Joseon ritual ceramics spotlighted in Seoul exhibition

TTEOKSAL – 떡살 : Wooden molds for rice cakes.

𝑻𝒕𝒆𝒐𝒌𝒔𝒂𝒍, or rice cake mold stamps to form decorative shapes and patterns, was used as early as the 16th century and remained popular during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The stamps can be classified by shape and material, with those with circles and flower patterns usually made from ceramics and those of square or rectangular shapes crafted in wood.

In addition to their decorative function, the patterns pressed onto rice cakes usually convey auspicious messages, such as those “𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒌” (blessing) or “𝒅𝒆𝒖𝒌” (benefit or gain) as shown in the photos

The most common patterns for rice cakes were plants and flowers, such as Chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, plum blossoms, pear blossoms, orchids, pine trees, peony flowers and grape vines. These patterns varies according to which plants and flowers were in season. Korean have always been inspired by the changing seasons. and transformed them into motifs for rice cakes, displaying their artistic skills and deep regard for nature.

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VARIOUS ACCESSORIES.