18th century

Scholar's Box

Although the history of lacquerwork goes back at least two thousand years in Korea, the majority of surviving lacquer objects date from the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) dynasties. Most Korean lacquer pieces are decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, and they often include twisted brass wires. Korean artists preferred to use abalone shell for their mother-of-pearl inlay because of its luminous colors. This scholar's box is an excellent example of its kind; a scholar would use such a container to store an inkstone or different kinds of stationery.