Garment Box with Phoenix Design (Primary Title)
螺鈿凤凰文壽字衣箱 朝鮮時代 (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This rectangular box is lavishly decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay depicting phoenixes, the Korean character for longevity, flowers, and fruit. Layers of black lacquer were first applied on the wood core, and then the design was carved into the lacquer. Lastly, finely carved and polished mother-of-pearl was inlaid in the grooves. The large size of the box and its animated design suggest it was produced for holding clothes during the mid-19th century in Seoul, one of the lacquer-making centers of the Joseon dynasty.
Joseon dynasty (1392-1910)
Unsigned
None
Gift of Mary Moore Aldhizer; Col. Henry W. Anderson, by bequest; Forrest R. Brauer; Estate of Ailsa Mellon Bruce; M. Sutton Carter; Dr. Robert A. Fisher; Mr. Arthur Graham Glasgow; Mr. and Mrs. Huntington Harris; Furman Hebb; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hennage;
Kim, Daye and Silvia Chang, "Treasures - Celebrating our 30th Anniversary", Kang Collection Korean Art, New York, NY, 2011, p. 52 (illus.)
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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