나전 대모 어피 칠 봉황 태극 꽃 무늬 이층반닫이장 조선|螺鈿玳瑁魚皮漆 鳳凰太極花文 二層欌 朝鮮|Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers

Art Historical Context

This exquisite chest, known as a *bandaji* or two-layer cupboard, hails from the late Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), crafted in the early 20th century. at 42¾ inches tall, it served as a prized storage piece for clothing or valuables, often found in elite households or as part of a bride's trousseau. Its lacquered wood surface gleams with intricate inlays of mother-of-pearl (*najeon*), tortoiseshell (*daemo*), stingray skin (*eop'i*), and delicate brass wire, topped with ornate brass fittings—a testament to Korea's masterful lacquerware tradition. The decorations feature majestic phoenixes symbolizing immortality and renewal, swirling *taegeuk* roundels evoking the cosmic balance of yin and yang, and blooming floral motifs with leaves, blending mythical grandeur with natural harmony. These motifs reflect Joseon Confucian values, where beauty and symbolism conveyed prosperity and moral order. The labor-intensive inlay techniques, cutting and gluing iridescent shells and skins into lacquer, highlight the era's artisan skill, reserved for the upper class. On view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art department (Bequest of Franklin Jasper Walls, 1963), this chest invites visitors to appreciate the refined elegance of Korean decorative arts, where everyday furniture became a canvas for cultural storytelling.