RARE LACQUER AND PEARL INLAY BOX, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 16th century Rectangular, the top of the lid and the sides of the box decorated with lotus flowers and foliate scrolls, the sides of the lid decorated with pines, bamboo, prunus and lotus, the interior lined with late-period fabric; restorations and minor damage to the inlays Dimensions: 7.7 × 27 × 19 cm (2 ¾ × 10 ½ × 7 ¼ in.) A rare mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquered box and cover, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 16th century Source : Provenance: French private collection The technique of lacquering with mother-of-pearl inlays has a long and rich tradition in the history of Korean art. In the 15th-16th century, the decoration of foliage and flowers became simpler, inspiring the blue-white porcelains of China's Yuan dynasty. The present box, finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is a typical example from this period. The decoration of pine, bamboo and prunus on the sides of the lid, known as The Three Friends of Winter, symbolises the quality of the Seonbi (Korean scholars). Among the rarest examples, a very similar box resting on a base, dated to the 15th / 16th century, is held by the National Metropolitan Museum (no. 2015.500.3.2a,b); another garment box dated to the Joseon dynasty is in the collection of the National Museum of Korea (no. Deoksu 4182); a third, larger one dated to the 16th century was sold at Sotheby's New York on 22 September 2022, lot 524. Lacquerware with mother-of-pearl inlay has a long and rich tradition in the history of Korean art. During the 15th/16th century, scroll and floral design became simpler, inspiring the blue and white porcelains of the Yuan dynasty in China. The present box finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl is a typical example of this period. The decoration of pine, bamboo and prunus on the sides of the cover, called The Three Friends of Winter, symbolises the quality of Seonbi (Korean scholars). Among the examples with scroll and floral design, a box on a base dated 15th/16th century is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (n°2015.500.3.2a,b); another clothing box from the Joseon dynasty is in the collection of National Museum of Korea (Deoksu 4182); a third larger one was sold at Sotheby's New York, 22nd September 2022, lot 524. The technique of lacquering with mother-of-pearl inlays has a long and rich tradition in the history of Korean art. In the 15th-16th century, the decoration of scrolls and flowers became simpler, inspiring the blue-white porcelains of China's Yuan dynasty. The present box, finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is a typical example from this period. The decoration of pine, bamboo and prunus on the sides of the lid, known as The Three Friends of Winter, symbolises the quality of the Seonbi (Korean scholars). Among the rarest examples, a very similar box resting on a base, dated to the 15th / 16th century, is held by the National Metropolitan Museum (no. 2015.500.3.2a,b); another garment box dated to the Joseon dynasty is in the collection of the National Museum of Korea (no. Deoksu 4182); a third, larger one dated to the 16th century was sold at Sotheby's New York on 22 September 2022, lot 524. Lacquerware with mother-of-pearl inlay has a long and rich tradition in the history of Korean art. During the 15th/16th century, scroll and floral design became simpler, inspiring the blue and white porcelains of the Yuan dynasty in China. The present box finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl is a typical example of this period. The decoration of pine, bamboo and prunus on the sides of the cover, called The Three Friends of Winter, symbolises the quality of Seonbi (Korean scholars). Among the examples with scroll and floral design, a box on a base dated 15th/16th century is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (n°2015.500.3.2a,b); another clothing box from the Joseon dynasty is in the collection of National Museum of Korea (Deoksu 4182); a third larger one was sold at Sotheby's New York, 22nd September 2022, lot 524.