Late 19th Century Pair Rare and Supperb Korean Morijang Chests with Bamboo Inlays Dynasty

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A pair of spectacular Korean bed side chests or cabinets known as Morijang dated to the late Joseon Dynasty toward … Read more A pair of spectacular Korean bed side chests or cabinets known as Morijang dated to the late Joseon Dynasty toward the end of the 19th century. The cabinet was traditionally used to keep valuables such as jewelries and other small items on the bed (thus the name head-side chest). This is a very fine pair constructed with pine wood with the exterior covered in geometrical pattern of bamboo strips inlays. Such Morijang were made in the late Joseon dynasty as ultra luxury items and from an already scarce pool, rarely survived in amazing condition like this pair. The bamboo strip inlays form a mesmerizing key pattern and converge into the Buddhism Turning Wheel symbols. With a soft-glowing patina, they are simply breathtaking. The chests rests on conforming base with dowel base and the base is also meticulously inlays with bamboo. The use of brass hardware with chased scrolling patterns is laconic in order not to distract and they were kept for function as brackets, lock plates and hinges but they were finely made as well.
Bamboos grow in the southern part of Korean Peninsular and like in China, they were beloved as symbols of moral integrity and strength. In furniture making, bamboo was not commonly and only occasionally used, most as inlays for luxury items. Due to the nature of the material that tends to crack, it is rare to see such a wonderful example.
For a bamboo inlayed chest, see page 60 of the book "Traditional Korean Furniture" by Edward Reynolds Wright and Man Sill Pai. There are also bamboo inlayed pieces in the collection of National Folk Museum of Korea. See less