Among Korean furniture, the coin chest called “Ton-Kwe” in Korean is quite easy to recognize. With an average size of H. 45cm, L. 100 – 120cm, D. 35 – 45cm, it consist of a low box made of heavy thick bold wooden panels. This sturdy piece of furniture was usually made of elm or pine […]
Most household items were kept in the women’s quarters, stored within large cabinets and chests. These pieces of furniture were usually the most substantial and expensive in the home, presented to the couple upon their wedding. The tall piece featured here is referred to as a “mandarin duck” cabinet due to its paired openings at […]
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 “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 […]
Paulownia tree is called “Odong namu” in Korean 오동나무. Paulownia coreana, grows primarily in East Asia, with the southern region of Gyeonggi Province in Korea, including Seoul, being a notable area for its growth. Throughout history, it has been highly regarded for its exceptional wood quality and has been a preferred material for crafting furniture. […]
INTERESTING LISTING OF KOREAN COLLECTIONS IN AMERICAN MUSEUMS: https://www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/exhiForeignMuseum/list/all WEISMAN ART MUSEUM – Minneapolis, MN The collection includes about 200 examples of Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) furniture, 80 Silla dynasty (668–935 B.C.) stoneware pieces, some 150 folk paintings and wooden bowls and utensils, in addition to other folk arts and crafts. The collection came to the […]
The Chinese character for bat is pronounced the same as the character for good fortune (in Korean, “복” or “폭탄”). This similarity led to bat images being embroidered on pillow ends and incorporated into furniture designs and fittings as a symbol of good fortune. As bats were believed to live for a long time, their […]
To track the evolution of the Korean antique furniture market, we showcase pieces that have been auctioned since 2021. We scour auctions and galleries worldwide, assisting us in our research of historical prices for Korean furniture available in the market. The information accompanying the photos has been provided by the auction houses or galleries. LINKS: […]
At present from a historical point of view, we should call this furniture as furniture of the Northern provinces of Korea because at the time of the “Joseon dynasty”, the country was unified. Korea was separated in two as a result of the war in the middle of the 20th century (1953). Until the late […]
There is not the slightest trace of decoration on the rice chest. Its occasional iron or brass fitting is not meant to make it more attractive, these fittings enhance the chests qualities of gravity and durability. The structure of the rice chest, constructed from solid piece of pine tree, is depicted in bold, straight lines. […]