Catalog (31)

Rare Red Lacquered Inkstone Box of Drawers with symbolic metalwork: 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.

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.

Three Fine Antique Korean Safes with Gorgeous Burlwood Grain and Stunning Metalwork. Dimensions: 22.5w x 15d x 15h inches (57 x 38 x 38 cm), 16w x 11d x 10.5h (40.5 x 28 x 27 cm), 12w x 9.5d x 11h (30.5 x 24 x 28 cm).

Rare Pair of Boxes for Storing a Scholar's Name Seals, with Lovely Wood Grain and Metalwork. A scholar's name seals were among his most personal and treasured items. 6h x 5w x 5d inches, 15h x 12.5w x 12.5d cm.

Beautiful Korean Antique Wood Safe with Fine Zelkova and Burlwood Grain and Lovely Floral Metalwork. The bat-shaped handle plates on the front doors are an ancient symbol of good luck because they are pronounced the same as the word for happiness, "bok". The metalwork also has lotus blossoms throughout, an ancient symbol of rebirth because the lotus rises above the muck of the pond to show its face to the Sun. 24.5w x 18d x 21h inches, 62w x 46d x 53.5h cm.

"This safe will bring to the owner a long life of happiness and good fortune. It was made in 1877 Jeung New Yeon, the 3rd year of the reign of Kwang Sir" reads the original painted inscription on the bottom of the chest. Rare Small Antique Korean Wood Safe with Original Owner Inscription, a Gorgeous Zelkova Burlwood Grain, Exotic Paulownia Wood Drawers, and a Lovely Iron Lock Plate with Multiple Bullochos, the ancient mythical longevity plant. Korean safes (Gakkesuri or Gapgesuri) in this small size are scarce and highly desired by collectors. The rare original inscription adds very much to the collectibility of this fine piece. There are carved bullochos on each side of the safe, under iron handles with chrysanthemum iron handle plates. Chrysanthemums, because of their numerous petals, are an ancient symbol of plenty or fertility. An altogether beautiful, rare, and collectible work of art. 21w x 12d x 11h inches, 53.5w x 30.5d x 28h cm.

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.

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.

Fine, Rare 19th Century Korean Inkstone Box with Tortoise-Form Handle and Deep, Dark Grain. Elegant form and deep color. The tortoise is an ancient symbol of steadfastness and longevity. The underside of his shell was believed to conceal the secrets of the universe. So this box would have held the same meaning to the one who used it. The black tortoise depicted here was the king of all tortoises, with extraordinary powers to protect one from evil. The inkstone box was a Korean scholar's most treasured item. He handled it every day, when he would take out his inkstone to begin writing or painting. This is a fine example with a rare form that must have been inspiring and contemplative for the original owner. 11 x 7.25 x 3.75 inches, 28 x 18.5 x 9.5 cm.

14th Century Korean Inlaid Celadon Cosmetic Box with a rich color right in the middle of the blue-green of the Goryeo Period and the gray-green of the Joseon Period. 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.

Luxurious 19th Century Korean Black-Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Comb and Cosmetics Box (Bitjup). This fine example is larger than other lacquered comb boxes. It is 11.25 x 11.25 x 10 inches (28.5 x 28.5 x 25.5 cm). The pairs of birds represent love, the hexagonal motif on the middle drawers is the ancient tortoise-back symbol of longevity, the peony on the bottom right drawer represents abundance and wealth with its full and abundant petals, the peaches on the lower left drawer and the peach-shaped middle drawer pulls are symbols of longevity, and the top and bottom drawer pulls in the form of a bat are symbols of happiness and good fortune, because the words for bat and happiness are pronounced the same. This is a stunning 19th Century box filled with ancient and meaningful symbolism.

Rare 19th Century Black Lacquered Box with Mother-of-Pearl with a Beautiful Seascape and Ten Symbols of Long Life (Sipjangsaeng): pine tree, sun, deer, crane, clouds, the mythical bullocho plant, rocks, peaches, bamboo, and river. When the deer and crane are paired, as they are here, they are also a symbol of eternal love. 17w x 10.25d x 11h inches, 43w x 26d x 28h cm.

Rare 19th Century Black Lacquered Box with Mother-of-Pearl River and Mountain Landscape and Plum Blossoms (the plum blossom is a symbol of courage because it blooms early, before winter is quite finished). For centuries in Korea, a rendering of a mountain and river (called Sansu in Korean) is more than a beautiful landscape; it is also a profound philosophical and spiritual statement. Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are represented, by the mountain, river, and human figures, respectively. 18w x 10.5d x 10h inches, 45.75w x 26.5d x 25.5h cm.

Rare 19th Century Black Lacquered Box with Mother-of-Pearl Cranes (symbol of longevity and eternal love, because cranes were believed to mate for life), Peach Trees (symbol of longevity), Plum Blossoms (symbol of courage because the plum blossom blooms early, before winter is finished), and Peonies (symbol of prosperity). 20w x 11.5d x 11.75h, 51w x 29d x 30h cm.

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.

Set of Three Nesting Wood Boxes covered with Applied Hand-Cut Paper Designs and finished with a light oil. This is very much like the one in the Brooklyn Museum (see page 163 of the Korean Art Collection in the Brooklyn Museum, 2006). The Brooklyn box is only one box, whereas this is three nesting boxes. The Korean Taeguk symbol adorns the lids and sides of each box, along with stylized floral designs. With one more section than the two-sectioned yin and yang symbol, the three-sectioned Korean Samtaeguk symbolizes Heaven (red), Earth (green) and Humankind (yellow), which combine and interlock to form the supreme ultimate unity of cosmological forces. Large Box: 18 x 10 x 5 inches, 45.75 x 25.5 x 12.75 cm; Medium Box: 16.25 x 8.5 x 4 inches, 41.25 x 21.5 x 10 cm; Small Box: 14.5 x 7.25 x 3.5 inches, 37 x 18.5 x 9 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.

Early 20th Century Large Black-Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Box, in fair condition with much loss of the mother-of-pearl. The brass hardware is old but is not original. 31.5 x 18.5 x 16.5 inches, 80 x 47 x 42 cm.