Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 14. (Budapest, 1994)

NAGY Ildikó: Koreai veretes ládák a Hopp Ferenc Kelet-Ázsiai Művészeti Múzeum gyűjteményében

commonly used were different pines, oak, chestnut, walnut, pear, cherry, persimmon, bamboo, paulownia, elm, gingko, birch, jujube, and maple.

6 First the surface of the wood was smoothed using a rice straw scrubber; it was then rubbed with oil in order to enhance the effect of the grain. For polishing the wooden surface, pine, walnut, paulownia or sesame oil was used.

7 Sometimes small dining tables and chests with shelves were varnished using transparent lacquer. The panels of the furniture were fixed to each other using precisely carved jointing or wooden pins. (Here fish glue was applied, too.)

8 The small Korean collection of our museum keeps quite a few chests made at about the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth century. A wedding chest richly decorated with metal ornaments, which was a typical piece of furniture in women's, rooms during in the late Choson Dynasty, is an outstanding work of art in our collection. It was used for storing clothes and other household articles.

9 Our chest is a kind of commode-sized, "half-closing chest" (Korean name: bandaji) with a door opening downwards in the upper half.

10 It closes with a metal band mounted in the centre at the top it has a rail-type lock. It is made of elm, a hard wood. The front panel is framed with brass fittings. On the opening and fixed parts of the front there are five fittings in the shape of butterflies. Chinese hieroglyphs meaning "double happiness" are engraved on their wings. There are two curved handles arranged symmetrically above the butterflies and under them in the centre there is a handle, too. On the fixed part of the front panel two sidehinges take the shape of two baskets filled with peaches; these are believed to be the symbols of longevity. At the edges of the chest borders a series of brass fittings are applied in the shapes of bats and rhombi - these are symbols of luck, too. On the front side of the lock Chinese hieroglyphs symbolizing good wishes are engraved. The lower edge of the chest is curved, its four legs are fixed to feet, which is general for Korean furniture. The feet on the legs of the furniture prevents them from warming up and at the same time protects the floor, which covered with oil paper. In spite of blemishes on the top of the chest and a few fittings missing, this chest is in relatively good condition. The other chest furnished with metal fittings is a rectangle black lacquered covered box (Korean name: mokham, mokchilham.

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) The top of the box is fixed with the help of three hinges and it can be opened with a rail-type lock. The edges of the front panel are framed with a line of sceptre-shaped and openwork fittings made of brass. An ornamental can be seen in the lower half of the central part. It bears the Chinese hieroglyph meaning "double happiness". Above this there is a square-shaped brass plate fixed to the top plate and the front panel with ring-shaped devices. The two rings of the top panel are used for hanging the lock band, the other two rings, and one ring on the band are needed for the rail-system lock. There is a stylized phoenix ornament on the lock band. On the basis of the rich metal fitting ornaments we can conclude that this box was possibly a valued piece in the women' s room. The inside of the chest is covered with paper so the raw material could be determined only after a thorough investigation by a restorer, but such an investigation has not been considered warranted-in order to preserve the work of art intact. Although this piece is simple in its ornamentation, it is a very decorative piece of furniture. It is in good condition. It was made around the first decades of the twentieth century. The third small piece of furniture with metal fittings is a cosmetics box (Korean name: kyangdae) covered with reddish brown lacquer on the outer sides and richly decorated with brass ornaments.

12 This was an essential requisite in the women' s quarters. It opens at the top and it is furnished here with a fixed case. On the front side there are two opening doors and two opening drawers.