COLLECTION “ANTIKASIA” The “Antikasia” Collection includes Korean antique furniture acquired over several decades. This section documents both pieces still held in the collection and examples that have since been sold or transferred to other collections. The acquisition of our first piece of Korean furniture dates back to the mid-80s when we lived in Seoul. From […]
FEATURED IMAGE: Wedding Palanquin. Collection National Folk Museum of Korea, Seoul. A palanquin is a covered litter, typically designed for a single passenger, and it is carried by an even number of bearers, usually two. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word “palyanka“, which means bed or couch. Palanquins come in various sizes and […]
Lacquer, known as “ottchil” (옻칠) in Korean, is a natural paint that has been utilized in Asia since ancient times. Its properties, such as water and insect repellency, enhance the durability of objects while imbuing them with a beautiful luster. The application of lacquer is a time and labor-intensive process. Initially, it takes several months […]
These two emblems were borrowed from Chinese mythology and are occasionally found in Korean art. Korean furniture is often adorned with auspicious motifs, frequently found on hinges or inlays made from materials such as mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, or shagreen. This design is less commonly carved into wood, as is the case with Chinese furniture. […]
Shagreen and Galuchat are terms for a highly durable, textured leather made from the hides of sharks or stingrays. Shagreen has been prized since the time of the pharaohs in Egypt and during the Chinese Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220). In China, it was used in the construction of bows. In Japan, shagreen has been well-documented […]
This brief history of traditional Korean furniture aims to address common questions about its origins and the limited availability of antique pieces in the market. Feature photo at the top of this post: A painting by Shin Yun-bok, who was born around 1758 and passed away after 1813. He was a Korean painter known by […]
Featured image at the top of this post: Gyeonggi Do Bandaji from the National Museum of Korea. Gyeonggi Do province or Kyonggi Do, where the capital city of Seoul is located, lies in the northern western part of the peninsula. The north, south and eastern part of the province are covered by mountains. Bandaji chests, […]
EWHA WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY. SEOUL. Korean Furniture Collection. More than 500 pieces are featured in the collection of the Ewha Woman’s University Museum in Seoul, Korea. Woman’s University Museum in Seoul, Korea. The museum was open on April 6, 1935, as part of the university’s efforts to preserve Korea’s rich cultural heritage. HO-AM ART MUSEUM. SEOUL. […]
Located in the central western part of South Korea, Chungcheong Do was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty.The name of the province derives from the name of the principal city of Cheongju. It lies between Gyeonggi Province in the north, Jeolla Province in the south, and Gyeongsan and Gangwon Provinces […]
Gangwon Do, also known as Kangwon Province, has Chuncheon as its capital city. Before the division of Korea in 1945, this part of South Korea and its North Korean neighbor constituted a single province, as depicted on the map below. Gangwon Province is bordered to the west by Gyeonggi Province, to the south by the […]