Unhyeongung Collection
2003 Director’s Message
The collection of the Seoul Museum of History consists of items donated by individuals from Seoul and the other parts of the country, items obtained through regular acquisition activities, and the relics from Unhyeongung Palace, which are revealed to the public in this catalogue. Donated relics and acquisitions have been introduced to the public and related specialists through the standing exhibition, special exhibitions, and general exhibitions. The Unhyeongung relics, however, are being presnted for the first time. This catalogue, Unhyeongung Palace Relics I, is the second published by the Seoul Museum of History on relics in its collection following Korean Wood Furniture , which was published in 2002. Sharing information on its collection not only with related specialists but also members of the general public is one part of the museum’s efforts to make itself a relevant part of the lives of the citizens. Though Unhyeongung is diminished in comparison to its heyday, many major buildings still remain, including Norakdang, Noandang, and Irodang. The palace was the private residence of the Prince Regent Heungseon Daewongun and the place where his son Gojong was born and raised till the age of 12 when he ascended the throne. In total it served as the home for five generations of royal family members including Yi Jae-myeon, Yi Jun-yong, Yi Woo, and Yi Cheong, and thus has an important place in the modern history of Korea. The Seoul Metropolitan Government acquired the Unhyeongung relics in 1993 when it purchased the palace, and in 1998 it transferred management of the relics to the Seoul Museum of History. Since then the relics have been sorted and evaluated according to category, and this catalogue on Unhyeongung household relics is the result of such research activities. The relics featured include traditional furniture, interior fixtures, imported chairs, and travel goods, all bearing the traces of those who used them. There are few extant relics left from the period of enlightenment (late 19th to early 20th century; period of transition from old to modern Korea) and in this respect the household relics of Unhyeongung are important items in understanding the transition between traditional Korean style and modern Korean style. Finally, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Prof. Kim Samdaeja who took great care in selecting the items to be included in this catalogue and writing the annotation, and to the staff of collection Management Department who worked so hard in publishing this catalogue together.
December 2003 Han Mun-cheol, Director, Seoul Museum of History Unhyeongung Collection
2 3 6 12
18 20 20 30 34 40 50 52 54 56 60 60 62 66 84 87 90 90 92 94 96 102 102 104 106 108
114 116 116 126 132
138 140 154 156
158 188 198 1.
6 7 2.
8 9 3.
10 11 Unhyeongung Palace Abstract
Unhyeongung Palace, located at 114-10 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, was the private hard times. Park Chan-ju, wife of Yi Woo and mistress of the palace, had received a modern residence of the Prince Regent Heungseon Daewongun and the place where his son King Gojong education and was part of an association called Suseonhwe which was composed of women was born and raised till the age of 12. Right after Gojong ascended the throne, the palace was leaders in society. Through this group she received financial support from many acquaintances expanded and it served as the home for five generations of the royal family: Daewongun, Yi Jae- and as a show of gratitude for their support she gave away pieces of the palace furniture, as is myeon (Daewongun’s eldest son), Yi Jun-yong (Yi Jae-myeon’s eldest son), and Yi Woo (King surmised from the two opulent and finely made articles of lacquered furniture with inlaid Uichin’s son, adopted by Yi Jun-yong). In 1993 the palace was acquired by the Seoul mother-of-pearl that were donated to the National Folk Museum. According to the donor family, Metropolitan Government and was restored, but on a diminished scale. the lacquered stacked cabinet (nong) with inlaid mother-of-pearl and lacquered whatnot As to the origin of the name Unhyeongung, Gojong’s residence before ascending the throne (sabangtakja) with inlaid mother-of-pearl were each part of a pair belonging to Unhyeongung was located near Seoungwan (The government office in charge of matters related to astronomy, and had been given to a woman named Mrs. Wadaei. Afterwards, Mrs. Wadaei passed them geography etc.) which overlooked a valley named Unhyeon. Gojong’s home was originally on a down to her eldest daughter (Namgung Ok-gang) who, in memory of her mother who had similar scale to a commoner’s home, but the year after Gojong became king, the royal court always taken great care in caring for the two items, donated them to the museum. provided funds for the purchase of homes in the nearby area. Then numerous buildings were The household fixtures of Unhyeongung were diverse, ranging from the implements used by constructed within the walls which stretched for several miles, and four gates were constructed. A ordinary people and royal court implements from the late Joseon Dynasty, implements from direct route to Changdeokgung Palace was created and Unhyeongung thus gained the grand and Ching China, chairs from a university library in the United States, furniture from the period of imposing appearance of a palace. Court ladies were dispatched to Unhyeongung and many enlightenment, and travel bags, and they give us a glimpse at life at that time and the activities of fixtures from the palace were also supplied here. the Unhyeongung family. Daewongun lived in several places during his lifetime besides Unhyeongung. They include The wooden handicrafts are especially important as they reflect the turbulence of Korea and Asodang in Gongdeogni, which later became the site of his tomb, Seokpajeong in Buam-dong, Korean life at the end of the 19th century and in addition show the changes in wooden handicraft which has been designated Important Tangible Cultural Property No. 26 by the Seoul techniques. Metropolitan Government, and Godeungol, a retreat in Yangju-gun, where Daewongun lived in In the fever for antique collection that in the 1960s, many people collected wooden handicrafts isolation after being ousted from power. Though it is not possible to know the scale of these including furniture items, but they did not show great interest in relics from the period of buildings or the number of people who lived in them at the time, among the Unhyeongung relics enlightenment (late 19th to early 20th century; period of transition from old to modern Korea) so that were donated to the city of Seoul there are some with a brush and ink inscription reading there are very few items from this period existing either in private collections or in museums. In “Gongdeogni,” so it seems that the relics include items from all four residences. effect, it seems as if the link between traditional furniture and modern Korean furniture is However, the Unhyeongung relics donated to the city of Seoul are not all the household missing. Therefore, it is hoped that the enlightenment period pieces from Unhyeongung will fixtures from the four residences. After liberation of the country in 1945 Unhyeongung fell upon serve to fill in that gap.
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1. Book cabinet with four horizontal sections
20 21 2. 3. Book cabinet made of paper Book case
22 23 4. 6. Book case Damaged book case
5. 7. Damaged book case Damaged book case
24 25 8. 9. 12. 13. Book case Book case Damaged book case Damaged book case
14. Book case
10. 11. Damaged book case Damaged book case
26 27 15. 16. Book case Book case
18. Book case
17. Damaged book case
28 29 19. 20. Open-sided cabinet / whatnots Open-sided cabinet / whatnots /
30 31 21. Open-sided cabinet / whatnots
32 33 22. Cabinet with three horizontal sections
34 35 23. Wardrobe
36 37 25. 24. Lacquered bedside cabinet with mother of pearl inlaid Wardrobe
38 39 27. Box
26. Red lacquered box
28. Box
40 41 29. Box
31. Box
30. 32. Box Box
42 43 33. 36. box Lacquered box
34. 37. Box made of zelkova Lacquered box
35. 38. Box Lacquered box
44 45 39. Red lacquered box
40. Portrait box
42. Portrait box
41. Portrait box
46 47 44. 45. Belt case Lacquered box
46. 47. 43. Box made of paper Box made of paper Seal case
48 49 48. 49. Bedstead
50 51 51. Bamboo blind
50. Bamboo blind
52. Bamboo blind
52 53 54. Tray for smoker’s requisites
53. 55. Yut board
54 55 57. Wooden step
58. Wooden step
56. Floor lamp
59.
56 57 60. Wooden smoothing roller
63. Stand
61. Cane
62. 64. Broom stick Stool table
58 59 65. Three tiered cupboard
60 61 66. Grain chest
67. Chest with a turnover door
62 63 70. Wicker basket covered with paper
68. Chest with a flap door
71. Wooden lid
72. Wooden lid
69. Chest with a flap door
64 65 73. 74. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs
75. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs
66 67 76. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs
78. Rotary banquet table
77. Red lacquered table
68 69 79. 80. Meal table manufactured in Naju Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
70 71 82. Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
81. Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
83. Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
72 73 85. Flowery table with mother of pearl inlaid
84. Lacquered flowery table with mother of pearl inlaid
86. Meal table /
74 75 87. 89. Wooden tray Wooden tray
88. 90. Wooden tray Wooden tray
76 77 91. 94. Wooden tray Wooden tray
92. 95. Wooden tray Wooden tray
93. 96. Wooden tray Wooden tray
78 79 97. 99. Wooden tray Wooden tray
98. 100. Wooden tray Wooden tray
80 81 101. 103. Wooden tray Wooden bowl with a lid
102. 104. 105. Red lacguered tray Cookie bowl Cookie bowl
82 83 108. Large scooped wooden vessel
106. Large scooped wooden bowl
109. Large scooped wooden bowl
107. Large scooped wooden vessel 110. Large scooped wooden bowl
84 85 111. Large scooped wooden bowl
114. Chopping board
112. Rice washing bowl
115. Chopping board
113. Rice washing bowl
86 87 118. Roller
116. Chopping board
119. Roller
117. Chopping board
120. Round fulling stick
88 89 121. Table spread with ritual food
123. Table spread with ritual food
122. Table spread with ritual food
90 91 125. Incense burner table
124. Incense burner table
126. Incense burner table
92 93 127. 128. Shelves for ritual foods Shelves for ritual foods
94 95 129. Ancestral tablet case
96 97 130. Ancestral tablet case
98 99 131. Ancestral tablet case
100 101 132. Straw mat
134. Straw mat
133. Straw mat
102 103 135. 136. 138. 139. Round straw mat Straw cushion Straw cushion Straw cushion
140. Straw cushion
137. Straw cushion
104 105 141. 142. 145. 146. Sieve Sieve Bamboo basket Bamboo basket
143. 144. 147. 148. Sieve Sieve Winnow mal measure
106 107 150. Bamboo blind
149. Bamboo blind
151. Bamboo blind
108 109 152. 153. 156. 157. Bamboo blind Bamboo blind Bamboo blind Bamboo blind
154. 155. 158. 159. Bamboo blind Bamboo blind Bamboo blind Bamboo blind
110 111 160. Bamboo blind
161. Bamboo blind
112 113 114 115 162. 163. Secretaries
116 117 164. Cupboard
118 119 165. Cupboard
120 121 166. 167. Cupboard Cupboard
122 123 168. 170. Cupboard Boot cupboard
169. 171. Boot cupboard Secretaries
124 125 172. 173. Open-sided cabinet with four horizontal sections / whatnots Open-sided cabinet with two horizontal sections / whatnots
126 127 174. Open-sided cabinet with two horizontal sections 176. Stool-table
175. 177. Table Stool-table
128 129 179. 178. Banquet table Rectangular table
130 131 180. 181. Toilet table Walking stick rack
132 133 182. Tray
183. Tray
185. Red lacquered meal table
184. Tray
134 135 186. Plate
188. Tray
187. Plate
136 137 138 139 189. 190. Chair Chair
140 141 192. Chair
191. Armchair
193. Chair
142 143 194. 195. Sofa Sofa
144 145 196. 197. Armchair Armchair
146 147 198. 199. Chair Chair
148 149 201. Stool
200. Chair 202. Stool
150 151 204. Square table
203. 205. Cupboard Mirror stand
152 153 206. 208. Box Suitcase
207. 209. Suitcase Suitcase
154 155 210. Sewing machine
156 157 9. Book case
3. 6. Book case 1. Damaged book case Book cabinet with four horizontal sections
10. Damaged book case 4. Book case
7. Damaged book case
11. Damaged book case
8. 2. Book case Book cabinet made of paper
5. Damaged book case
12. Damaged book case
158 159 16. 22. Book case Cabinet with three horizontal sections 13. 19. Damaged book case Open-sided cabinet / whatnots
17. Damaged book case 14. Book case
20. Open-sided cabinet / whatnots
23. Wardrobe
21. 15. Open-sided cabinet / whatnots Book case 18. Book case
160 161 24. 28. Wardrobe Box 31. Box
26. Red lacquered box
29. Box
32. Box
27. Box 30. Box 33. Box
25. Lacquered bedside cabinet with mother of pearl inlaid
162 163 37. Lacquered Box
41. Portrait box
38. 34. Lacquered Box Box made of zelkova 44. Belt case
42. 39. Portrait box Red lacquered box
35. Box 45. Lacquered Box
40. Portrait box 36. 43. Lacquered box Seal case 46. Box made of paper
47. Box made of paper
164 165 55. 58. Yut board Wooden step
51. 48. Bamboo blind Bedstead 59.
52. Bamboo blind 56. 60. Floor lamp Wooden smoothing roller
49. 53.
61. Cane
54. Tray for smoker’s requisites
62. 57. Broom stick 50. Wooden step Bamboo blind
166 167 63. 72. Stand Wooden lid
69. Chest with a flap door 73. 64. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs Stool table
74. 67. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs Chest with a turnover door 70. Wicker basket covered with paper 65. Three tiered cupboard
75. Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs
71. Wooden lid
68. 76. Chest with a flap door Table with legs in the shape of a tiger’s legs
66. Grain chest
168 169 85. Flowery table with mother of pearl inlaid
90. 77. 81. Wooden tray Red lacquered table Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
86. Meal table
82. Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong 91. Wooden tray 78. Rotary banquet table
87. 83. Wooden tray Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong
92. 79. Wooden tray Meal table manufactured in Naju
88. Wooden tray 84. Lacquered flowery table with mother of pearl inlaid 93. Wooden tray
80. 89. Meal table manufactured in Tongyeong Wooden tray
170 171 94. 108. Wooden tray Large scooped wooden vessel
99. Wooden tray 104. 109. Cookie bowl Large scooped wooden bowl 95. Wooden tray 100. Wooden tray
105. Cookie bowl
96. 110. Large scooped wooden bowl Wooden tray
106. 101. Large scooped wooden bowl Wooden tray
111. Large scooped wooden bowl 102. 97. Red lacguered tray Wooden tray
107. Large scooped wooden vessel
112. Rice washing bowl
98. 103. Wooden tray Wooden bowl with a lid
172 173 118. Roller 113. 122. Rice washing bowl Table spread with ritual food
125. Incense burner table 114. Chopping board 119. Roller
120. 123. Round fulling stick Table spread with ritual food
126. Incense burner table 115. Chopping board
121. 116. Table spread with ritual food Chopping board 124. Incense burner table
117. Chopping board 127. Shelves for ritual foods
174 175 132. Straw mat 137. Straw cushion
130. 128. Ancestral tablet case Shelves for ritual foods 133. Straw mat 138. Straw cushion
139. 134. Straw cushion Straw mat
129. 131. 140. Ancestral tablet case Ancestral tablet case Straw cushion
135. Round straw mat
141. Sieve
136. Straw cushion
176 177 142. 147. 151. Sieve Winnow Bamboo blind
158. Bamboo blind 143. Sieve 152. Bamboo blind
159. Bamboo blind 144. 153. Sieve Bamboo blind
160. 148. Bamboo blind 145. mal measure Bamboo basket 154. Bamboo blind
161. Bamboo blind
155. Bamboo blind
149. Bamboo blind
156. 146. Bamboo blind Bamboo basket
150. 162. Bamboo blind 157. Bamboo blind
178 179 170. Boot cupboard
167. Cupboard
163. Secretaries
165. Cupboard 168. Cupboard 171. Secretaries
164. Cupboard
169. 172. Boot cupboard Open-sided cabinet with four horizontal sections / whatnsts 166. Cupboard
180 181 181. Walking stick rack
173. Open-sided cabinet with two horizontal sections / 176. 182. whatnsts Stool-table Tray
179. Banquet table
183. Tray 174. Open-sided cabinet with two horizontal sections 177. Stool-table
180. Toilet table 184. Tray
178. Rectangular Table
185. Red lacquered meal table
175. Table
182 183 198. Chair
186. Plate 194. Sofa
199. Chair 187. 190. Plate Chair
195. Sofa 200. Chair 188. 191. Tray Armchair
196. Armchair 192. Chair
197. 201. 189. Armchair Stool Chair
193. Chair
184 185 202. 210. Stool Sewing machine
208. Suitcase 203. Mirror stand
209. 204. Suitcase Square table 206. Box
205. Cupboard
207. Suitcase
186 187 169 227 234 241 248 255
221 228 235 242 249 256
229 243 222 236 250 257
244 223 230 237 251 258
238 245 259 224 231 252
246 225 232 239 253 260
226 233 240 247 254 261
188 189 262 269 276 283 290 298
291 292 270 277 299 263 284
264 278 300 271 285 293
265 272 279 286 294 301
295 266 273 280 287 302
267 274 281 288 296 303
268 275 282 289 297 304
190 191 305 312 319 326 333 340
306 313 320 327 334 341
328 307 314 321 335 342
329 308 315 322 336 343
330 309 316 323 337 344
338 310 317 324 331 345
339 311 318 325 332 346
192 193 347 354 365 372 374-6 374-13
366 348 355 374-7 375 373
349 360 367 374-1 374-8 376
350 361 368 374-2 374-9 377
351 362 369 374-3 374-10 379
370 382 352 363 374-4 374-11
353 364 371 374-5 374-12 383
194 195 428 384 391 398 414 421
385 392 399 415 422 429
386 393 400 416 423 433
394 387 401 417 424 434
388 395 402 418 425 435
389 396 412 419 426 166
427 390 397 413 420 167
196 197 198 199 2003 12
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