Korean Lacquerware

Incense Container 

Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), 10th–12th century

Lacquer with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell inlay (over pigment) and brass wires

H. 1 5/8 in., L. 4 in.

The art produced by the people living in Korea has traditionally shared aesthetic concepts, techniques, and forms with the art of China and Japan, but it has developed a distinctive style of its own. In the Goryeo period, mother-of-pearl inlay and often in combination with tortoiseshell (najeon chilgi), became the dominant decorative technique for Korean lacquer, and it has continued to the present day (http://www.britannica.com).

The lacquer is a resin made from the highly toxic sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree. It is a close relative of poison ivy. The raw lacquer is collected annually by extracting the sap through notches cut into the trees. It is gently heated to remove excess moisture and impurities. The purified lacquer can then be applied to the surface of nearly any object or be built up into a pile. Once coated with a thin layer of lacquer, the object is placed in a warm, humid, draft-free cabinet to dry. As high-quality lacquer may require thirty or more coats, its production is time-consuming and extremely costly (http://www.britannica.com).

Although Korean lacquerware of the Goryeo period was highly prized throughout East Asia, fewer than fifteen examples are known to have survived. This box is one of them. Viewing other objects in lacquer suggest that this box was one of four that fit around a central round box. These boxes have traditionally been identified as "cosmetic boxes". The presence of Buddhist imagery on other related examples suggests that this box might be part of a set of incense containers that encircled a box in which a Buddhist rosary might have been kept (www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/25.215.41a,b).

While living in Korea, I have seen first hand the beauty that the country has to offer. I was able to travel around Korea and visit many historical and important cultural places. This decorating technique is one that stands out in my memories. I have chosen this particular piece for many reasons. I feel that it being so rare really shows the quality and craftsmanship of the masters who built it. I love the dense patterns, flowers, and shapes that the mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell on the black background produce. The edges of the box are reinforced with twisted brass wire. The box is only 1 5/8 inches tall and 4 inches long. With it being that small and having that much detail involved is amazing. 

These lacquerware pieces are a big part of the Korean culture. Unfortunately, so many cheap reproductions using chemical paints have downgraded the quality of the art. It is so easy to find a cheap version that the old style has been declining. There are still masters who work to keep the traditions alive while moving forward to the future. 

For more information on Korean art please visit http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/719289/Korean-art