Date: Late Joseon Dynasty (19th century)

National Museum of Korea

Attached with a brass base and handle, this iron brazier uses the silver inlay technique that involves carving a design of grooves into the surface and hammering the silver wire into place. On each side of the cover,there is a window embellished with plum blossoms and chrysanthemums. Four different reclusion-themed ancient Chinese pictures are engraved across the brazier: Tilling the Farmland, Meng Haoran Seeking Plum Blossoms, Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage and Wang Xizhi Watching Geese. The vivid portrayal of ancient Chinese stories manifests how Korean people valued art in their daily life.

During the late Joseon dynasty when wars were mostly over, iron was used to make not only weapons and agricultural tools, but also handicrafts. Silver inlay technique was so popular that it was extensively applied to royal items such as braziers as well as household necessities including cigarette cases, candleholders and brush cases. Common motifs comprised ten symbols of longevity (shi pjang saeng), bat, eight treasured ingredients, flowers, butterflies, etc. This brazier depicts a unique picture of historian figures and natural scenery of ancient China.

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