What is Confucianism? The primary decorative and finishing characteristics of Korean furniture as we know it today are closely linked to Neo-Confucianism, the dominant philosophy of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). Originating from the teachings of Confucius and later developed by Chinese scholars, Neo-Confucianism emphasized moral integrity, respect for family and social hierarchy, education, self-discipline, and […]
Like its neighbors, China and Japan, Korea developed regional furniture styles despite the relatively small size of the peninsula. The bandaji provides the best example, owing to its widespread production throughout the country. This chest was used by every level of society, from the aristocracy to the most modest households. Regional differences are, however, much […]
This bibliography brings together books, museum catalogues, academic studies and online resources relating to traditional Korean furniture. Particular attention is given to furniture types, regional characteristics, materials, construction, metalwork, lacquer techniques and museum collections. The majority of books and studies on antique Korean furniture have been published in the Korean language, with only a few […]
The “Morijang“, 머릿장 in Korean, is a unique piece of furniture found in the Korean furniture collection. It likely emerged during the 18th or early 19th century and is commonly referred to as the headside chest in English. Determining the age of furniture can be a complex process, often hindered by a lack of information […]
FEATURED PHOTO: From left to right, Chinese wardrobe, Japanese clothing chest, Korean blanket chest. Korea, Japan, and China share historical and geographical connections. Situated in the northeastern part of Asia, they all share a common trait of being prominent furniture production centers, likely influenced by their climate characterized by four distinct seasons. Furthermore, these countries […]
KOREAN FURNITURE AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET In response to various inquiries about Korean furniture in our Facebook group, it seems necessary for us to examine the different types of Korean furniture available on the market. When looking for genuine pieces, one has to be very careful because, unlike some other forms of art, furniture is […]
The beoseonjang is a small storage cabinet traditionally placed in the inner quarters (anbang) of a Joseon household, particularly in the master bedroom or a guest room. On the featured photo of this publication, it is the small chest on the right hand side with a white ceramic jar on the top. Used for storing […]
HO-AM ART MUSEUM. SEOUL. Ho-Am Art Museum opened on April 22, 1982 and this private museum was founded as the permanent home of the Korean traditional works of art collected over a period of about three decades by Lee Byung-Chull, the founder of the Samsung Group, whose pseudonym was Ho-am. LINK: Ho-Am Museum. THE LOCK MUSEUM […]
K AUCTION. LINK: K Auction A South Korea’s premier art auction house, established in September 2005 to buy, sell, and appraise modern and contemporary Korean art, traditional cultural artifacts, and international works SEOUL AUCTION. LINK: seoulauction.com is South Korea’s premier and first major art auction house, established in 1998 to lead the country’s modern and […]