Garment Box with Phoenix Design and Longevity Symbols (Translation)
나전봉황문수자옷상 조선시대 (Primary Title)
螺鈿鳳凰文壽字衣箱 朝鮮時代 (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This rectangular box is lavishly decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay depicting phoenixes, the Korean character for longevity, flowers, and fruit. Layers of black lacquer were first applied on the wood core, and then the design was carved into the lacquer. Lastly, finely carved and polished mother-of-pearl was inlaid in the grooves. The large size of the box and its animated design suggest it was produced for holding clothes during the mid-19th century in Seoul, one of the lacquer-making centers of the Joseon dynasty.
Joseon dynasty (1392-1910)
Unsigned
None
Seven stylized characters of 壽 (su, longevity) in mother-of-pearl inlay
Gift of Mary Moore Aldhizer; Col. Henry W. Anderson, by bequest; Forrest R. Brauer; Estate of Ailsa Mellon Bruce; M. Sutton Carter; Dr. Robert A. Fisher; Mr. Arthur Graham Glasgow; Mr. and Mrs. Huntington Harris; Furman Hebb; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hennage; Mr. Stanely Levick; Charles M. Martin; Lelia Blair Northrop, by bequest; Estate of Randolph Roberts; Mrs. Price L. Rogers; Charles B. Samuels, by bequest; Estate of Rose MacDonald Skoggs; Mrs. J. F. M. Stewart; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tormey; Mrs. M. S. Wightman; Nettie L. Wiley; Estate of Zachary Taylor by exchange and the Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, by exchange
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