Catalog (321)

Rare Small Wood Document Box. This is a fine and elegant example. 17 x 8.5 x 2.25 inches, 43 x 21.5 x 5.75 cm.

Korean Antique Compartmented Inkstone Box and Old Brush. This box has a warm beauty that comes from its lovely form and beautiful patina that shows many years of devoted use by a Joseon Dynasty Korean scholar. 10 x 7 x 1.25 inches, 25.5 x 17.75 x 3 cm.

Beautifully Carved Indonesian Antique Inkline Carpenter's Tool for marking straight lines with ink. From the Irwin Hersey Collection of Indonesian Art. Irwin Hersey was the author of Indonesian Primitive Art. Catalog #ID288 from the Hersey Collection. 6 x 3.75 x 2.5 inches, 15.25 x 9.5 x 6.25 cm.

Lilac Fan Painting by Jeon Yeong Suk aka Yeo Cheong (1960 - ). The lilac is an ancient symbol of peace and harmony. 21 x 6.5 inches, 53.5 x 16.5 cm. This, along with our Stock Numbers 1319 and 1320, is part of a set of three fan flower paintings by Jeon Yeong Suk.

Chrysanthemum Fan Painting by Jeon Yeong Suk aka Yeo Cheong (1960 - ). The chrysanthemum's many petals is an ancient symbol of an abundant life or fertility. 21 x 6.5 inches, 53.5 x 16.5 cm. This, along with our Stock Numbers 1318 and 1320, is part of a set of three fan flower paintings by Jeon Yeong Suk.

Rare Two-sided Carved Image and Calligraphy on Light Zelkova Wood by the renowned Lee Nam Ho (1908-2001). Calligraphy has been the most revered field of art throughout Korean history. The calligraphy translates to "The Way of Zen". The exotic zelkova wood itself is a work of art, with its luxurious grain and vigorous form. Lee Nam Ho has shaped the wood into a striking work of art adorned with strong and expressive calligraphy strokes on one side, and a stunning image of a man in traditional attire and the mythical divine Girin beast. A contemplative and rich work of art. You will not find another like it. 24 x 18 inches, 61 x 45.5 cm. Ready-to-hang with an iron hook and ring already installed on the top. This will display nicely and make a beautiful statement in the home or office.

Meditative calligraphy: Empty Your Heart and Mind by Lee Nam Ho aka Geum Choo (1908-2001). Lee Nam Ho is renowned as a painter. This is a rare and fine example of his calligraphy. Calligraphy has been the most revered field of art throughout Korean history. 26 x 12 inches, 65.5 x 31 cm.

Contemplative calligraphy: Music, Writing, and Books by Lee Nam Ho aka Geum Choo (1908-2001). Lee Nam Ho is renowned as a painter. This is a rare and fine example of his calligraphy. Calligraphy has been the most revered field of art throughout Korean history. 51 x 13.5 inches, 129 x 34 cm.

Large Prehistoric Bronze Age Korean Arrowhead of a scarce type and size illustrated in the catalogue: The 29th United Association of the University Museums of Korea Exhibition - Korea's Bow and Arrow. There are also similar examples of early Korean arrowheads in the December 1934 Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 1500 - 300 BCE. 6 inches (15 cm).

Rare Fan Painting by Renowned Buddhist Monk Artist Su An Sunim (born 1940). The calligraphy on this 1997 painting says, "Your smile is an offering to Buddha." The recent exhibition of Su An Sunim's work at the Zen Buddhist Temple in New York City was the most highly-attended exhibition ever presented by the Korean Art Society. At that exhibition, Su An Sunim's works of similar size and quality sold for multiples of the prices we are asking here. Ink and colors on paper. 16.25 x 11 inches, 41 x 28 cm. The second photo here shows a wall label from that exhibition with a price of $2000. That painting is smaller than the Su An painting we are offering here.

Rare Fan Painting by Renowned Buddhist Monk Artist Su An Sunim (born 1940) of a Crane Couple painted in 1997. The crane is an ancient symbol of longevity and immortality. Because cranes were believed to stay with one mate for their lifetime, it is also a symbol of faithful love. When the crane is paired like this, the meanings of immortality and fidelity combine to mean eternal love. That sentiment is reinforced by the calligraphy. The recent exhibition of Su An Sunim's work at the Zen Buddhist Temple in New York City was the most highly-attended exhibition ever presented by the Korean Art Society. At that exhibition, Su An Sunim's works of similar size and quality sold for multiples of the prices we are asking here. Ink and colors on paper. 19.5 x 14 inches, 50 x 36 cm. Two small tears in lower left side. The second photo here shows a wall label from that exhibition with a price of $2000.

Rare, Museum Quality 19th Century Medicine Chest (Yakjang) with Paulownia Doors. This is the finest work of Korean antique furniture we have ever offered, and likely the only example of this type anywhere outside of Korea. Antique medicine chests with doors are extremely rare even in Korea, and this is probably the best known condition among the very few left. Each drawer has the name of the medicine inscribed on it. Perfectly proportioned at 100 x 75 x 33 cm, 39.5 x 29.5 x 13 inches.

Oil Painting by Jeon Joon Yeop. 64 x 38 inches, 162 x 97 cm. Jeon Joon Yeop (born 1953) is a well-known artist in South Korea, with numerous art reviews. He was the top-selling artist in last year’s Korea International Art Fair, Korea’s biggest art fair. Instead of finding comfort in his successes, Jeon accepts popularity as a challenge to further explore how to speak the ancient language of Korean landscape painting with a modern vocabulary of techniques, such as pouring, scratching, spreading, soaking, smudging, blowing, and densely recoating oil paint onto the canvas. Another seemingly modern technique that Jeon employs, the presentation of multiple viewpoints in a single painting, is actually an ancient technique in East Asian painting. Jeon even adds the viewpoint of the person in the painting, creating an attachment for the viewer of the painting so that the landscape is not objective and detached, thus keeping, and sharing, the Korean traditional subjective and harmonious view of nature.

This is the only ancient Korean mace ever offered for sale. The few existing examples are all in museums in Korea. It is from the Early Joseon Dynasty, 16th Century or earlier. Only Korea has this type of straight mace with a perfectly round head. And the head is made from iron insets just like the scales on Korean royal armor. 22 inches (46 cm) long, 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide.

This seven feet tall Antique Korean Trident is the only Joseon Dynasty Trident ever offered for sale. The few existing examples are all in museums in Korea. Only Korea has this type of trident with the small round iron cymbals under the fork for scaring off tigers and other wild animals. The shape of the fork is also uniquely Korean. The Chinese trident has much rounder corners. 82 inches (208 cm) tall, 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) wide.

Shin Eun Sook Marble Sculpture, Mandala. Shin Eun Sook, Chairwoman of the Korean Sculpture Association, is famous for her monumental sculptures, some as tall as 13 meters (over 40 feet), that can be seen throughout Asia in public parks, university campuses, museums, and corporate headquarters. Her small-scale and affordable works like this one are rare. The third photo here is of the artist standing next to her bronze and granite work at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The remaining photos are a few examples of her famous public works. 26.5h x 12.5w inches, 67.25 x 31.75 cm.

Oil Painting by Jeon Joon Yeop. 36 x 25.5 inches, 91 x 65 cm. Jeon Joon Yeop (born 1953) is a well-known artist in South Korea, with numerous art reviews. He was the top-selling artist in last year’s Korea International Art Fair, Korea’s biggest art fair. Instead of finding comfort in his successes, Jeon accepts popularity as a challenge to further explore how to speak the ancient language of Korean landscape painting with a modern vocabulary of techniques, such as pouring, scratching, spreading, soaking, smudging, blowing, and densely recoating oil paint onto the canvas. Another seemingly modern technique that Jeon employs, the presentation of multiple viewpoints in a single painting, is actually an ancient technique in East Asian painting. Jeon even adds the viewpoint of the person in the painting, creating an attachment for the viewer of the painting so that the landscape is not objective and detached, thus keeping, and sharing, the Korean traditional subjective and harmonious view of nature.

Very Rare 19th Century Korean Officer's Sword with Dragon Hand Guard. There are only a couple hundred Joseon Dynasty swords in existence and they are rarely offered for sale. Most were destroyed during the Japanese invasions of the late 19th and early 20th century. Total length: 40 inches, 101 cm.