A KOREAN STACKING CHEST

A KOREAN BLACK-LACQUERED AND MOTHER OF PEARL-INLAID STACKING CHEST
JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Made of two large rectangular sections raised on a base with square scrolling feet, richly decorated with landscapes and depictions of deer, cranes, pine, fish, sayal-mun geometrical patterns and auspicious characters; each section fitted with two doors and brass escutcheons, hinges and brackets; both rectangular sections 49.5cm x 79.5cm x 39.5cm, 119.5cm x 81.5cm x 39.5cm overall. (3)

Provenance: from the collection of Dr John William Hawksley Grice OBE (1891–1976) and thence by descent.

See the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, access. no.FE.226-1974 for another two-section stacking chest with auspicious decoration rendered in mother of pearl inlays. This type was used to store clothing.

The hanja characters and the depictions of some of the ship-jangsaeng (the Ten Symbols of Longevity) including the deer and pine tree reinforce the theme of a long, healthy life.

十九世紀 韓國黑漆嵌貝母箱
來源：John William Hawksley Grice 醫生(1891–1976)收藏，之後由家人繼承。