AUCTIONS IN KOREA.

There are numerous auction houses in Korea; however, it’s challenging to monitor them online. Consequently, we only focus on tracking the primary auction houses located in Seoul. K AUCTION. 23 Eonju-ro 172-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. SEOUL AUCTION. Jong-Ro No. 01-2173 11, Pyeongchang 31-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea Email : info@seoulauction.com

KOREAN MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAY LACQUER WARE.

Mother-of-pearl, also known as nacre, is an inorganic composite material produced by certain mollusks as an inner shell layer, and accumulated in other shells, such as freshwater pearl mussels, in the form of pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent. It can be found in strains of mollusks in the class of “Bivalvia“, such as […]

KOREAN MEDICINE CHEST, YAK JANG 약장

Apothecaries, also known as medicine chests, featuring numerous pullout drawers, were utilized during the Middle Ages in both Europe and the Far East by predecessors of our modern pharmacists. The exact origins of medicine usage in Korea remain unknown; nevertheless, since ancient times, there was a necessity to classify and store the materials required for […]

PYONGYANG BANDAJI-평양 반닫이

This type of furniture is commonly found in Pyongyang, the current capital city of North Korea. Pyongyang has been a center of economic and cultural influence since the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). The climate in the area is characterized by very cold winters and hot, dry summers. They are quite easy to recognize due to their […]

METALWORK PATTERNS ON KOREAN FURNITURE. PART 1

CHANGSOK. “Changsok” refers to the metal decoration used on Korean furniture. These metal fixtures served both utilitarian and decorative purposes, being crafted from materials like cast iron, copper, tin, nickel, and white brass. The white brass alloy, which includes tin and sometimes nickel in addition to the conventional copper and zinc found in yellow brass, […]

JANG – 장

Feature image: Jang – Two level chest. Zelkova wood, lacquer, brass fittings. H. 134cm, W. 103cm, D. 47cm. Early 19th century. Collection Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota. USA. The “Jang” was a type of furniture traditionally used for storing clothes in Korean households. However, due to cost considerations, most modest households opted for the “Bandaji“. […]

THE CASE OF THE KOREAN STAIRCASE.

We feel it’s necessary to set the record straight regarding the Korean staircase. Indeed, numerous posts in our group, as well as the frequent presentation of this type of furniture with their erroneous descriptions in auctions or galleries, have led us to resolve this matter once and for all. Here are just a few examples […]

KOREAN BOXES – 목함

Small original boxes are likely the most challenging pieces to come across in the Korean furniture market due to their historical association with the elite. These boxes are relatively rare, and they were used in both men’s and women’s quarters for various purposes. Among these boxes, the wedding box was the most common and could […]

WITNESSES OF THE PAST.

OLD PHOTOS, PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS OF KOREAN FURNITURE. The study of the origins of traditional Korean furniture is complex due to the lack of proper documentation. Prior to the 19th century, paintings provide some information about the lifestyle of Koreans during the Joseon Dynasty. From the middle of the 19th century, photographs taken by explorers […]

METHODS OF KOREAN FURNITURE FINISHES.

In this publication, we delve into the technique of wood finishing for Korean furniture during the Joseon Dynasty. To the best of our knowledge, there is a scarcity of studies in English on this subject, necessitating our reliance on publications in Korean. Our hypotheses are formulated based on a thorough examination of numerous pieces, the […]