Mother-of-Pearl Legged Jewelry Box: Mandarin Duck Pair on Abalone-Shell Ground

This piece is chosen by those who recognize that the finest decorative objects do not merely hold precious things, but become precious through the intelligence of their making. “Raised slightly above the ground, the box begins to behave less like an object of storage than like a small ceremonial presence.” Made by Park In-ho, this mother-of-pearl jewelry box is compelling first because of its structure. The legged form is not incidental. Most jewelry boxes rest directly on a base, affirming their practical role as containers. This one is lifted. That elevation matters. By setting the body upon four shaped legs, the artisan separates the box from ordinary furniture logic and gives it a more formal and architectural bearing. It was made in this way so that the object would possess not only function, but stance. That stance immediately increases the technical challenge. Korean mother-of-pearl inlay depends on the controlled use of extremely thin shell pieces, cut and arranged so that they lie with precision across the lacquered surface. Flat planes are already demanding. Curved supports are more so. The legs of this box are not left plain as secondary elements, but are fully ornamente

$1,660.00

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