Hat Box, 19th century
Unknown Koreanexpand_more
Wood, lacquer, abalone shell, metalexpand_more
Gift of Will-Bes Dominicana Company, Chong Won Trading Company, Beautic Company, Yang Jee Industrial Company, the Margurite Kim Memorial Fund, the Harriet Hanley Estate, and the Mimi Johnson Estateexpand_more 2002.219.1
On View in Gallery MSexpand_more
This hat box, entirely encrusted with pieces of abalone shell, was used to store a man’s inner hat, or tanggeon. Korean craftspeople used a special technique to create such objects. First a wooden box was coated with several layers of lacquer, onto which pieces of abalone shell were affixed. They then continued to coat the box with lacquer until the shell was completely covered. After the lacquer dried, they laboriously polished the surface with charcoal until the iridescent shell was revealed. Typical of Korean style, the mother-of-pearl is broken and reassembled in the manner seen here.
Details
- Title
- Hat Box
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2002.219.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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