Antique Korean Sutra Desk Lacquer with Mother of Pearl Inlays Joseon Dynasty

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An antique lacquered wood desk (Gyeongsang) with mother of pearl inlays from Korea circa mid-19th century. The form of this … Read more An antique lacquered wood desk (Gyeongsang) with mother of pearl inlays from Korea circa mid-19th century. The form of this small table is typical of a sutra reading desk with the end-turned end. Its prototype likely came from the altar table of Chinese origin, and it was traditionally used in the temples for reading and studying Buddhism manuscripts during Goryeo period. In the predominantly Confucianism Joseon society, this form of the table entered the household as small reading tables known as Gyeongsang, or when higher, as altar table for ancestor worshipping. The low profile renders its user to sit on the floor and the end would prevent the scrolls from falling off the tabletop.
The Gyeongsang on offer here has a classic silouette of a Chinese altar table with feature such as the protruding braces on the upper part of each leg, but other construction elements such as the stretchers between the legs, the size, and the decorations identify it as Korean. The black lacquer finish was done on a linen base, on which scrolling vines and peony blossoms were depicted using brass wire and MOP inlays. The shells were incised to give a more three-dimensional effect. The table was possibly made in the Tongyeong, South Kyongsang Province, a coastal craft city in Joseon period famous for “Najeon,” the technique of MOP inlays.
In its original condition, the table retains its structural integrity but shows expected patina. The brass wire and MOP inlays remain mostly intact. All four corners of the upturned ends have sustained blunt bumps at some point and show minor loss that exposed the underlying linen. Small chips scattered along the edges. Thess can be restored professionally (we can arrange it) if one chooses to, with an additional cost.
Compared this table to a Gyeongsang with a similar form but much more elaborate decoration, lot 111 sold in Christie's sale 13641 on 04/25/2017 An Inquiring Mind: American Collecting of Japanese & Korean Art. See less