Since woodwork makes use of a natural, production of articles
from wood, it is relatively simple. For this reason, it has been widely used
in craftwork since ancient times. In Korea, the structure of the elegant, single-story,
wooden houses and the custom of sitting on heated floors provided further impetus
to the diverse and extensive utilization of wooden handicrafts.
Various tree-felling tools such as axes and saws indirectly attest to the existence
of woodwork during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Particular examples include the
wooden artifacts dating from around the first centuries B.C. or A.D. which were
recently discovered along with a large basket in Daho-ri Village in Changwon.
The nature of Goguryeo furniture can be ascertained by looking at tomb murals
from the period. Notably, the furniture can be distinctly divided into two categories.
Depictions from the Pyongyang area show furniture influenced by Han China with
many legs, while depictions of furniture from the Tung-kou region show tables
and trays with horse-hoof style legs. Since the Goguryeo territory extended
deeply into the Asian continent, the paintings at Tung-kou - a more central
region - are thought to be more representative of the basic Goguryeo style.
The lacquered crown decorated with silver and gold that was excavated from the
Baekje King Muryeong's tomb, other Silla artifacts and the existence of special
government offices in charge of woodwork indicates that woodwork was not only used as burial objects but also for a diverse range of everyday objects.
| The Baekje King Muryeong's tomb, Gongju (Baekje Kingdom) |
During the Goryeo period, refined craftwork enjoyed its heyday. Particularly
suited to aristocratic tastes, mother-of-pearl lacquerwork flourished at this
time. Made by applying colorful abalone shell in designs on lacquered wood,
Goryeo mother-of-pearl was used to make a diverse range of objects including
boxes for sutras or Buddhist rosaries. At one point, a special government office,
known as the
Jeonham Joseong Dogam, was temporarily created in order
to make lacquerware for the Chinese royal house. This period also saw the production
of colored tortoise shell using the Daemo technique. Stylistically, this is
associated with the ox-horn decorations which became popular during the Joseon
period.
The representative furniture of the Joseon period is of a practical yet appealing
geometrical design. With a simple beauty, the pieces of this period incorporate
the natural patterns of the wood. Due to the unique aesthetic sense evident
in pieces from this period, Joseon furniture is highly prized both in Korea
and overseas. Furniture styles from this period were influenced by Confucianism
which upheld a strict distinction between the genders, valued humility and frugality
and sought a scholarly and gentile lifestyle. Furniture forms and styles of
the period were largely determined by social status and use, with specific types
of furniture placed in the
sarangbang (reception room for male visitors)
and other types used in the wife's areas such as the kitchen and
anbang
(bedroom). Notably, the furniture of the sarangbang was of a simple and natural
construction reminiscent of the simplicity found in Joseon-era white porcelain.