Details
Description
A rare and radiant 4-piece Korean lacquer vanity and chest set handcrafted by Young Jin Chilgi-sa in Busan. Features dazzling …
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A rare and radiant 4-piece Korean lacquer vanity and chest set handcrafted by Young Jin Chilgi-sa in Busan. Features dazzling mother-of-pearl inlay, modular design, and meaningful provenance as a traditional Korean wedding gift. Free shipping included.
Full Description:
This extraordinary Korean lacquerware vanity and chest set was meticulously handcrafted by Young Jin Chilgi-sa (영진칠기사), a respected lacquer studio based in Dong-gu, Busan—a coastal city famed for its mother-of-pearl craftsmanship during Korea’s export boom of the 1970s and 1980s.
Commissioned as a wedding gift from a Korean grandmother to her granddaughter, the set was brought to the United States shortly after the marriage and has remained in carefully preserved condition ever since. Sets like these were traditionally gifted to bless a new marriage with abundance, longevity, and harmony.
The four-piece modular design includes:
A tall, arched mirror framed in lacquer and luminous abalone inlay
A matching base vanity with drawers and side cabinets
A separate stacked storage chest composed of two units with drawers and sliding doors
The entire set is finished in deep black lacquer and inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl and abalone, forming elegant naturalistic scenes of cranes, florals, and foliage. The inlay shifts in color from violet to teal to rose gold depending on the light, creating a mesmerizing multicolor effect. The original fish-shaped brass pulls, symbolizing abundance and prosperity, remain intact.
Designed in the traditional Korean style for seated grooming, the set can be arranged in multiple configurations thanks to its modular construction — making it equally suitable as a vanity, console, or art furniture centerpiece in a modern home.
About the Maker:
Young Jin Chilgi-sa operated in Busan’s Dong-gu district, a renowned hub of lacquerware production. Their pieces are distinguished by expert craftsmanship, richly layered lacquer, and highly detailed mother-of-pearl inlay. Labeled studio works like this are increasingly rare, particularly in such complete and well-preserved condition.
Similar high-end lacquer sets from Korea — especially studio-labeled pieces with intact abalone inlay and full mirror configurations — are increasingly rare outside of Korea and can command prices between $6,000 and $9,000 in the luxury vintage furniture market.
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- Dimensions
- 38.5ʺW × 13.25ʺD × 14.75ʺH
- Styles
- Asian Modern
- Period
- 1980s
- Country of Origin
- Korea, Republic of
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Abalone
- Lacquer
- Mother-of-Pearl
- Wood
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Onyx
- Condition Notes
- This set is in excellent condition with glossy lacquer, smooth-operating drawers, and vivid inlay. There are two areas of minor … moreThis set is in excellent condition with glossy lacquer, smooth-operating drawers, and vivid inlay. There are two areas of minor wear due to a past moving incident: A small lacquer loss on the front left corner of the vanity base, caused when movers incorrectly inserted a screw to anchor the mirror. This area is fully concealed when the mirror is in place, which is the intended and most common configuration. A small area of wear on the top rear edge of one chest section, also from moving. It is not visible during use. These minor flaws do not affect functionality and are only noticeable upon close inspection. less
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