Vintage Korean Najeonchilgi Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Cabinet Form Jewelry Box. The rich red color throughout is decorated with stunningly beautiful bird, flower, and vine forms in the mother of pearl, with doors above that open to reveal three drawers and a single larger drawer down below. 

Size: 8 x 4 1/4 x 11 in. 

Najeonchilgi is a traditional Korean handicraft that combines the intricate methods of wood lacquering and embedding vibrant, colorful pieces of mother-of-pearl. Originally introduced in separate craft procedures during the Three Kingdoms and Silla periods, the art form reached its golden age under the Goryeo Dynasty, when highly magnificent and detailed pieces were crafted exclusively for aristocrats and foreign dignitaries. Under the subsequent Joseon Dynasty, the craft expanded its appeal to commoners by shifting from Buddhist-influenced patterns to simpler, nature-based designs and scenes from daily life. Though the trade faced heavy suppression during the Japanese colonial period, it experienced a resurgence following independence, ultimately serving as a symbol of Korean wealth during the economic boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The traditional creation process is incredibly demanding, requiring immense patience from craftsmen across more than thirty steps that involve creating a base, applying fresh clay-lacquer paint, pasting meticulously cut shells, and polishing. Today, while mass production and modern synthetic materials pose a threat to authenticity, contemporary artists and institutions like the Ottchil Art Museum actively work to preserve najeonchilgi by integrating these historic techniques into modern art and lifestyle products.

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