Korean Najeonchilgi Hexagonal Mother-of-Pearl Floral Lacquer Box

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This exquisite Korean najeonchilgi lacquer box is a remarkable study in geometry, pattern and the natural iridescence of mother-of-pearl. Its … Read more This exquisite Korean najeonchilgi lacquer box is a remarkable study in geometry, pattern and the natural iridescence of mother-of-pearl. Its compact hexagonal form is lavishly decorated on nearly every visible exterior surface, while opening the box reveals an unexpectedly dramatic interior lined with large sections of richly figured shell.

The lid is constructed as a beautifully ordered composition. A central stylized blossom radiates outward into delicate sprays of foliage, surrounded by an intricate circular procession of scrolling floral motifs. These are contained within the six-sided geometry of the box by a broad mother-of-pearl border incised with a precise linear pattern. Against the deep black lacquer ground, the design has an almost textile-like intricacy.

What photographs can only partly convey is the extraordinary optical character of the shell. In direct light the predominantly pale mother-of-pearl suddenly blooms into shades of rose, lavender, aqua, emerald and gold. Even a slight change in viewing angle completely alters the surface.

The sides are equally elaborate. Large stylized blossoms and curling vines repeat across each panel and continue onto the lid's edge, giving the box a remarkably complete decorative treatment rather than concentrating the ornament solely on its top.

But the greatest surprise is inside.

Rather than a conventional fabric or plain lacquer lining, the interior is faced with broad sections of intensely iridescent natural shell. Here the material is allowed to become the decoration itself. Its undulating growth lines, pools of green and blue, flashes of violet and bronze, and naturally occurring variations create an almost abstract landscape.

The contrast is particularly beautiful: outside, the shell has been disciplined into hundreds of carefully arranged decorative elements; inside, it is presented in its natural form. One reveals the artistry of the maker, while the other reveals the artistry of the material itself.

The underside of the lid is finished in glossy black lacquer, providing a quiet visual pause between the highly ornamented exterior and the jewel-like interior below.

At only a few inches across, this box has a surprising visual presence. It is both a functional decorative object and a small showcase of the Korean tradition of mother-of-pearl lacquerwork.

This box is part of a small collection of exceptionally fine Korean mother-of-pearl lacquer boxes being offered individually in our Designalaria collection on Chairish. Several companion pieces are shown together in the photographs to illustrate how beautifully the varying shapes, patterns and shell colors relate to one another. Each is sold separately and may be found elsewhere in our shop. Displayed singly they have the presence of small jeweled objects; assembled as a group, their luminous surfaces and differing geometries create a particularly striking collection. See less