Ca 1890, pine and persimmon wood, original brass fittings with boss-head nails.
This is an authentic antique document/writing box. It was in the collection of a Korean Professor of Korean History and Antiquity who was reluctant to part with it because he found small antique boxes are some of the hardest to find in Korea after the last war. Poverty facing the surviving citizens made them sell any old items to tourists to eke a living.
This handsome box was done with simple decoration using the essence of the materials themselves. The front panels of the drawers are made of persimmon wood known for its highly decorative dark and light grains. The drawers are high-lighted with double-hook brass drawer pulls, and the framework in front is decorated with brass details. Pine is used for the body of the box which is attached to a beautiful curvilinearly-carved base. This box has all the beautiful hallmark of work by a Korean craftsman of yore.