Korean Kanghwa Royal Brass-Mounted Bandaji Chest

Details

Description

This traditional royal Korean chest, known as a ban‑da‑ji, was made around 1895–1900 CE from either elm or pine. The … Read more This traditional royal Korean chest, known as a ban‑da‑ji, was made around 1895–1900 CE from either elm or pine. The wood has a warm golden‑brown tone and is richly finished with brass mounts and decorations.

Based on the specific brass fittings and the shape of the feet, the chest is attributed to the Kanghwa region of South Korea. Several cities produced ban‑da‑ji chests, but Kanghwa was known for making pieces for royal and upper‑class households. Historically, chests of this type were used to store documents, books, and clothing.

This example measures 33.5"H × 37.5"W × 17.5"D.

The chest comes from my family: it was my maternal great‑grandmother’s wedding dowry. According to our family register, she married around 1895–1900 CE, which aligns with the period of the piece. Some of the photos show the brass hardware before polishing, and others after polishing, so you can see the evolution of the surface over time. See less