Box with lotus motif

The stylistic elements and materials used on this box are reminiscent of the Goryeo dynasty mother-of-pearl lacquer tradition. Twisted brass wires are applied to depict the peony branches and tortoiseshell for the circular patterns. However, while Goryeo artists would have filled the whole surface with small repetitive patterns, Joseon artists, especially those active during the seventeenth century, designed the main motifs to be bolder and more prominent. On this box, the peonies are executed with large pieces of mother-of-pearl, which highlight the distinct hues and textures of the material.

The inside of this box is lined with colorful silk that was particularly favored for decorating the interiors of craftworks in the seventeenth
century. There are approximately five boxes of similar size and decoration known to exist in the world. Given the overall rarity of works
surviving into the twenty-first century, these boxes suggest the existence of mother-of-pearl lacquerware workshops and mass production in the Joseon dynasty.