Antique Korean Bandaji Chest Pyongyang Joseon Dynasty

Bandaji is known as drop front half-opening chest that was used to store family valuables and beddings. The Bandaji on offer was made in Pyongyang of Pyongan Do province in now North Korea circa late 19th century of Joseon Dynasty. Constructed in limewood, which is rather plain and free of grains, the chest was instead sumptuously decorated with nickel-copper (Paktong) plates, handles, stripes and studs. Covering nearly the entire front of the cabinet, the metal plates were placed with eye-pleasing symmetry in mind. The surface of the twelve vertical plates was etched with motifs of "Three Friends in Winter": Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossom, the emblems of longevity and resilience. Deers, peonies, maple leaves, vines all found their ways into the design of the other plates. Chinese characters (Hanja) "Fu" and "Shou" (Fortune and Longevity) were engraved on the large lock plate and the hanging knocker plate. The chest has iron handle on the side for easy moving. An interior partition appears to be added later to create two storage spaces. There is a fish form lock and lock rod, no key. It can be easily opened manually. Interior is unlined.
Examining the piece, it is evident that it is in its original condition with all metal pieces intact except a small vertical plate missing toward the bottom. The yellow vanish on the brass has worn off in certain contact points. It was probably taken from North to South Korean before it travelled with the owner to America. It is a well-cared antique piece with patina, a piece of strong sense of history and tells stories. In our opinion, that is where the beauty truly lies.
Among the collection of the Korean furniture, the largest in the world, in Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, there is a very similar Bandaji (shown in the last picture; item no.1987.22.47). The placement of all the metal plates and the detailed decoration on the plates are very much comparable. The chest is illustrated on plate 32 on page 52 in the book "Traditional Korean Furniture" by Edward Reynolds Wright and Man Sill Pai.