South African Art, Jewellery and Decorative Arts
Live Auction, 4 February 2013
Decorative Arts
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
A Korean mother-of-pearl-inlaid lacquered cabinet, Choson Period, 19th century, on later stand
rectangular, decorated with deer, bamboo, trees, birds, bats and fruit, the whole fitted with engraved mounts, fitted with a metal tongue lock and lock-plate, the sides with carrying handles and bat-shaped plates, the later stand, on square-section legs and incurved feet, restorations, 48cm high, 80cm wide, 44cm deep, 116cm high including the stand
Provenance
By repute this chest belonged to Isabella Lucy Bird, 1831-1904, English explorer, writer and historian.
cf. Anna M Stoddart, The Life of Isabella Bird (Mrs Bishop), Murray, London, 1906. Isabella Bird, writing from Korea says "All my baggage, including a great Korean chest, has gone to Chemulpo on the back of a huge bull..."