Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Korean (111)

19th Century Korean Hat Box made entirely of Exotic Paulownia (Odong-namu) Wood, from the collection of a French diplomat stationed in Korea in the 1950s. Paulownia is very desirable for collectors because of its beautiful wide grain, light weight, and fire and bug-resistant qualities. The paulownia used for this rare hat box is especially fine. 9.5 x 9.5 x 8.5 (height) inches, 24 x 24 x 21.5 cm.

Fine 19th Century Korean Royal Court Painting of Children at Play. This genre of Korean paintings always displays children playing in imaginary Chinese court costumes, and is called Baekdongja-do in Korean. From the ground-breaking Auspicious Spirits, Korean Folk Paintings exhibition catalogue: "Depicting the children as court nobility expressed an auspicious desire that one's own children achieve success in life." This exceptional example was displayed in the room of a wife in the Korean royal court to inspire her to become pregnant and to have healthy, playful, and successful children. It was also displayed on the first birthday of each child. Ink and colors on silk. 40 x 14.5 inches, 101.5 x 37 cm.

12th Century Conical Pure Celadon Bowl with perfect color and rare, sublime form. 6w x 2h inches, 15w x 5h cm.

19th Century Korean Hat Box made entirely of Exotic Paulownia (Odong-namu) Wood. Paulownia is very desirable for collectors because of its beautiful wide grain, light weight, and fire and bug-resistant qualities. The paulownia used for this rare hat box is especially fine. (hat not included) 12 x 12 x 12 (height) inches, 31 x 31 x 31 cm.

Rare Large 19th Century Silver-Inlaid Iron Box with Exquisite Floral Design and Stylized Taeguk (Yin/Yang symbol) with Key Fret Border and Double Happiness Symbols. Silver-inlaid iron boxes are usually smaller than this rare large example. The floral design is also more detailed here than what we usually see, altogether making for a deluxe item. The condition is not perfect and is commensurate with the age of the item, and actually adds to the beauty and storied history of what must have been an extraordinary gift 150 years ago and a unique presentation item today. Perfectly proportioned at 6 x 4 x 4 inches, 15 x 10 x 10 cm.

Rare 19th Century Korean Kyeongsang Scholar's Study Desk with Persimmon Drawers. Simple and elegant in keeping with the scholar's aesthetic. The upturned ends keep scrolls and writing materials from rolling off the desk. 27 x 12 x 11 inches, 68.5 x 30.5 x 28 cm.

Rare 19th Century Korean Hyangsang Small Desk and Table with Drawer. Hyangsang were altar stands for the family home altar. Hyangsang (aka Hyangnosang or Hyangtak) are so scarce that this is the only one we have ever been able to acquire in our twenty years in business. 16w x 15.5h x 11.5d inches, 41w x 39h a 29d cm.

Beautiful and Rare 19th Century Korean Elm Wood Document Box from Gyeongsangnam-do, with a patina and grain of gorgeous color and texture and lovely floral metalwork with plum blossoms (a symbol of courage because the plum blossoms early, before winter is quite finished) and chrysanthemum (a symbol of plenty or fertility because of its many petals). For a similar example, see page 69 of Traditional Korean Furniture by Man Sill Pai and Edward Reynolds Wright. 13 x 13 x 7.5 inches, 33 x 33 x 19 cm.

Extremely Rare Set of Three Mumun Pots from the 3rd Century BCE from the Koejongdong site in Daejon near the Geum River. A similar example from the National Museum of Korea can be seen in Plate 34 in The Prehistory of Korea by Kim Jeong-hak. Prehistoric Korean pottery is so scarce outside of museums, that this is the only time we have ever acquired any. According to Professor Choi Jong-taek of Korea University, these everted lipped pots with their distinctive color and texture date from the period in Korea when the Bronze Age was giving way to the Iron Age, and the Mumun pottery period was ending with these types of pots with a greater hardness and fired at a higher temperature than previous Mumun pots, that is, about 300 BCE. This was a brief but very important transitional period into higher technology and culture in Korea, from the the end of the Mumun Pottery Period to the beginning of the Iron Age, so pieces from this defining period are rare. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a collector. Dimensions from tallest to shortest are: #1 - 4 inches height x 11.5 inches circumference (10 cm height x 29 cm circumference); #2 - 3.5 inches height x 14 inches circumference (9 cm height x 35.5 cm circumference); #3 - 3 inches height x 12.5 inches circumference (7.5 cm height x 32 cm circumference).

Red Lacquered Safe with Beautiful Metalwork with auspicious symbols: a tortoise lock (symbol of longevity),peach drawer pulls (a symbol of longevity), the diamond-shaped Seven Treasures symbol, floral scrolls throughout, and the wan (the wheel of life and symbol of universal peace and harmony) is a symbol so ancient it actually predates Buddhism and originally represented the revolving sun. In Buddhism it represents the Heart of the Buddha, happiness, and resignation of spirit. 14.5d x 10w x 11h inches, 37d x 15.5w x 28h cm.

Rare Red Lacquered Inkstone Box of Drawers adorned with ancient symbolism: bullocho (mythical longevity plant) lock plates, bat (symbol of happiness) drawer pulls, and swallowtail (symbol of beauty) braces. The inkstone box was a Korean scholar's most treasured item. He handled it every day, when he would take out the contents to write and paint. The lid opens to reveal the compartment for the inkstone. The drawers hold the brush, ink, and paper. Together these, with the inkstone, are the "scholar's four friends." An inkstone box in royal red lacquer is exceedingly scarce. 11.5 D x 9.75 H x 8.25 W.

Very Rare Joseon Period Lacquered Bamboo Fan with the Korean Taegeuk National Symbol.The last photo here shows a similar fan in a recent Korean auction with an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000. You can see similar examples on page 475 of the catalogue of the Korean art collection of the Grassi Museum in Leipzig, Germany. The Taegeuk symbol has been used in Korea for thousands of years and is the center of the Korean flag. The three colors here, yellow, red, and a very light blue, represent balance in the universe, and Humanity, Earth, and Heaven, respectively. These fans very rarely come up for sale and are highly desired by collectors and museums. We offer this opportunity for one of our clients to make this rare acquisition of a sublime and contemplative 19th Century Korean meditative object at a generous price. 13 inches (33 cm) high x 9 inches (23 cm) wide.

Rare 19th Century Korean Antique Men's Mirror Box of High Quality Persimmon and Zelkova Wood. 10 x 8 x 6 inches, 25 x 20 x 15 cm.

13th Century Korean Inlaid Celadon Cosmetic Box. The chrysanthemum's many petals is an ancient symbol of an abundant life or fertility. Encircled with a key fret thunder pattern and rolling clouds motif. A rare and gorgeous piece. 3.25 inches wide x 1.75 inches high; 8.25 cm wide x 4.5 cm high.

The inkstone box was a Korean scholar's most treasured item. He spent more waking hours with this item than with any other. This inkstone box is a rare incised example with lovely clouds and cranes who bring blessings, good news, and happiness. It was ranked the most senior bird by Confucian scholars and thought a noble role model. The crane is also a longevity symbol and when they are paired like this, it is a symbol of eternal love and happy marriage. The four items kept in this box-- inkstone, brush, ink, and paper--were called the scholar's four friends. 16.5 x 11.5 x 10.25 inches, 42 x 29 x 26 cm.

Exceedingly Scarce Set of Three Iron Age Korean Pots with Exquisite Color and Beautiful Form. 4th to 1st Century BC. You are unlikely to ever see another Iron Age Korean pot offered for sale, much less a set of three. The remaining examples are all in museums or tightly held private collections. These prehistoric pieces are finely potted and made from soft and sandy red clay. They are aesthetically striking in both color and form and are historically significant. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the scholar/collector/aesthete. Right Pot Dimensions: 16.25 inches (41cm) circumference, 3.25 inches (8.5cm) height. Middle Pot Dimensions: 18.25 inches (46.5cm) circumference, 4 inches (10cm) height. Left Pot Dimensions: 12.5 inches (32cm) circumference, 2.75 inches (7cm) height.

This exemplary work of 19th Century Korean folk art is sculpted in and painted on wood and metal and features the two most revered mythical creatures in Korea: The Yellow Dragon and The Blue Dragon. This creative composition has a patron couple who seem to have the dragons' tails coming out of them. The Dragon brings rain, blessings, and life. The Yellow Dragon writhes dynamically and shows its face at the top of this piece, while The Blue Dragon offers a foundation to the composition and makes its presence known with a single all-seeing eye protruding through the bottom. In ancient Korean cosmology, The Yellow Dragon rules from the center of the sky. Korean emperors chose from ancient times the symbol of The Yellow Dragon to represent the royal family. The Blue Dragon is the color of the sky and the sea and symbolizes the power of both. Farmers prayed to the Dragon for rain and fishermen prayed to him for a good catch, while fishermen's wives asked the Dragon to bring their husbands home safely. The Yellow Dragon and The Blue Dragon have been paired for millennia, with a wonderful example on the 7th century tomb of King Muyeol (reign 654-661). This tradition was continued by the 19th century owner of this sublime example with a string in the back for hanging and displaying in order to repel evil spirits while bringing blessings to the home. 20.25 x 14.25 inches, 51.5 x 36 cm.

Rare and Beautifully Embroidered Joseon Dynasty Korean Scholar's Rank Badge (Fusu) adorned with metallic thread throughout giving it a luxurious sheen. After 19 years in business, we have finally acquired a rare Korean rank badge (fusu) for the first time. This one belonged to a scholar aristocrat, as indicated by the cranes. It is rendered in a unique and lovely golden palette and is wonderfully designed with clouds (symbol of longevity), peonies (symbol of wealth or abundance), and rows of wan symbols (the wheel of life and symbol of universal peace and harmony). The wan is a symbol so ancient it actually predates Buddhism and originally represented the revolving sun. In Buddhism it represents the Heart of the Buddha, happiness, and resignation of spirit. 17.5 x 10.5 inches, 44.5 x 27 cm.