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

This pair of pillow ends is the oldest Korean embroidery we have ever offered. They are about 200 years old, from the early 19th Century. Please look especially at the close-up photos to appreciate the very fine technique employed in the details of this marvelous and rare pair. The peonies are a symbol of love and prosperity, and the butterflies are a symbol of happiness. Only very old fabric has such warm colors, and only the old embroiderers would have had the dedication and work ethic required to render such a masterpiece of early Korean embroidery. Each pillow end is 6 inches (15cm) wide.

Black Lacquered Mother of Pearl Table. This is a low table used in ancestor worship rituals. The gorgeous peony flower is a symbol of abundance and wealth. The delightfully rendered dokkaebi goblins that adorn each leg are guardians that chase away evil spirits. The clouds are symbols of Heaven, and the plum blossoms are symbols of courage. As you can see in the photo, there is some loss to one of the dokkaebi goblins, but this table is in otherwise amazing and excellent condition. 25w x 13d x 11.75h inches, 63.5w x 33d x 30h cm.

Blue and White Porcelain Memorial Tablet for Park Gi Il from Miryang, Korea, dated May 1830. It declares a long genealogy in the royal Min clan. This epitaph was written upon the passing of Park Gi Il of Miryang in May 1830. It memorializes him and lists his ancestors' names. An important piece of history and a rare and beautiful work of calligraphy painted with blue cobalt on white porcelain. 7.5 x 6 inches, 19 x 15 cm. framed

Only Pair of Korean Enlightened Saints (Nahan) Paintings Ever Offered for Sale. Set in beautiful landscapes, the Nahan on the right has subdued a demon who is supplicating before him. 18th Century. Colors on paper. 30 x 13.5 inches, 76 x 34 cm each.

17 x 9 x 7 inches, 43 x 23 x 18 cm. Rare 18th Century Korean Animal Hide Box. There is a similar 18th Century example in the Tenri University Sankokan Museum, illustrated in the book The Korean Relics in Japan Volume 4, page 339.

One-Of-A-Kind 18th Century Korean Staff Sword, Changpogeom, a style of sword unique to Korea, with seven gold inlay dots on each side representing the Seven Star Spirit (Chilseong), an ancient Daoist deity that controls fortune. Antique Changpogeom are rare. It's a staff with a fighting blade inside. And a Chilseong Changpogeom (Seven Star Staff Sword) is so rare that this may be the only surviving example. It is a large weapon, 43 inches (110cm) with a a 32 inch (81cm) blade, and the blade is a very high quality fighting blade. This is truly a museum quality sword.

Very Rare Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang aka Pyo Am (1713-1791), artist, calligrapher, art scholar and critic, and one of the most important figures and the most influential scholar-painter of 18th Century Korea. Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang is so rare that the only other example that we know of in America is a very similar work in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, illustrated on pages 172-173 of the recently published, Pathways to Korean Culture: Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty by Burglind Jungmann. The left and right margins bear the signed and sealed authentication of the most renowned expert on Korean calligraphy, Kim Sun Won aka Mae San, celebrated calligrapher and host of the television show Jin Pum Myung Pum, the Korean equivalent of the Antiques Road Show. Mae San's authentications are highly valued and can be found on pieces in museum collections throughout Korea. 25 x 11 inches, 63.5 x 28 cm.

17 x 9.25 x 6 inches, 43 x 23.5 x 15 cm. Rare 18th Century Korean Animal Hide and Wood Box. There is a similar 18th Century example in the Tenri University Sankokan Museum, illustrated in the book The Korean Relics in Japan Volume 4, page 339.

16.5 x 8.5 x 5.25 inches, 42 x 21.5 x 13.5 cm. Rare 18th Century Korean Animal Hide Box. There is a similar 18th Century example in the Tenri University Sankokan Museum, illustrated in the book The Korean Relics in Japan Volume 4, page 339.

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.

Lovely 13th Century Korean Celadon Chrysanthemum and Bullocho Bowl. The chrysanthemum is a Korean symbol of plenty, as represented by its many petals. The mythical bullocho plant is an ancient symbol of longevity. 4.5 inches (11.5cm) wide by 1.5 inches (4cm) high.

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.

Very Rare 13th Century Celadon Bowl with Elaborate Gold Painting. Gold-painted celadons were produced during a short period of time in the late 13th Century in Korea, so they are very rare. Black and white slip inlay is used for the design of the Willow Trees (ancient symbol of peace and contentment), Duck Family (symbol of blissful family life), Pampas Grass (symbol of autumn), Bullocho (mythical longevity plant), Lotus Blossoms (symbol of purity and rebirth), Chrysanthemums (symbol of well-being and abundance), and Orchids (symbol of modesty). Real gold paint is used throughout, for the bullocho, the pampas flowers, the irises, the ducks, the three rings that circle the interior of the bowl at the top to create a band for the inlaid floral scroll, and the two rings at the bottom of the bowl interior that create a solar center for the gold chrysanthemum. The exterior of the bowl is as elaborately inlaid as the interior, with gorgeous floral scrolls and sprays throughout, and a ring of stylized lotus blossoms at the bottom. Old gold lacquer repair like you see here is considered desirable by serious collectors and adds value along with character and history to a very rare, true masterpiece of celadon. As a philosophy, "golden repair" treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. Pieces were even sometimes deliberately broken in order to apply this aesthetic to them. 7.5w x 2.75h inches, 19w x 7h cm.

Very Fine and Rare Goryeo Dynasty Inlaid Celadon Cosmetic Box, 12th to 13th Century. The last photo here is a similar example that was in Christie's September 22, 2005 Sale of Japanese and Korean Art. We are sure you will agree that the Christie's example is not as refined, detailed, and beautifully designed as the piece that we offer here, with its inlaid lotus, geese, willow tree, and reeds. The condition is also excellent. On the side, you can see two small spaces where the potter's fingers covered the glaze. This is original to the piece so it is not a condition issue. It is in pretty much its original condition. The Christie's example was estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, 10 years ago. Dimensions: 4.75 inches wide, 3 inches high (50% larger than the Christie's example, which was 3.25 inches wide). 12 cm wide and 7.5 cm high.

Very Rare Goryeo Dynasty Gan Chal Calligraphy by the famous scholar Jeong Yi Oh aka Gyo Eun, born 1347. Frame: 19 x 19 inches, 48.25 x 48.25 cm; Calligraphy: 12 x 12 inches, 30.5 x 30.5 cm.

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

Rare 5th Century Korean Gaya Water Jar of Classic Form, Color, and Design. The decoration is incised into the clay between the carved bands before firing. Gaya was a confederation of small states independent from and influential on the the Silla Kingdom and its pottery, until Silla annexed Gaya in the 6th Century. The long neck keeps water from sloshing out while the jar is being carried. Height: 10 inches, 25.5 cm.

Extremely Scarce Set of Five Prehistoric Korean Arrowheads from Korea's Neolithic Period 8000-1500 BCE. These faceted arrowheads are identical to the Neolithic arrowheads on page 31 of the catalog, the 29th United Association of the University Museums of Korea Exhibition - Korea's Bow and Arrow, The Military Academy Museum. Sizes range from 1.75 to 3.25 inches. It is unlikely you will ever again see prehistoric Korean arrowheads offered for sale.