Antique Korean Pakch'on Wedding Bandaji Chest Joseon Dynasty

An antique Korean wedding wood Bandaji circa 19th century from the late Joseon Dynasty. Rarely available, this Bandaji was from Pakchon area in Pyongan Do (in nowadays North Korea). Known as “Sung Sun I” style Bandaji, the chest is distinctive in the densely ironwork hardware with finely pierced lace-like design that covers a large portion of the frontal surface. “Sung Sun” is an onomatopoeic word in Korean that represents the sound the wind makes when blowing rapidly through a hole.
Constructed in Zelkova (Korean elm), the drop-front chest rests on two block feet. The elaborate ironwork hardware is distinct in their large and bold forms lacquered in black. Unique shapes include the large "Namdaemun" (South Gate) plate in the center and two additional ones on the side echoing the design. One the rectangular vertical plates on the front, the cutout Hanji characters read Fu (Fortunate) on the top and Xi (double-happiness) on the bottom. A Fu character is also placed in the center Namdaemun plate. The character Xi is associated with wedding in China and Korea, so contextually indicates that this chest was mostly likely part of a marriage dowry. There is no lock. The interior is unlined and clean. The back retains the paper strips traditionally used to seal the gap between the wood boards.
Examining the piece, it is evident that it is an authentic antique piece in its original form and shows wonderful patina incurred in its long life. It was probably taken from North to South Korean during the war and was sold on the antique market. Such story-telling piece presents with a strong sense of history and cultural importance.
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 nearly identical Bandaji. It is illustrated on plate 31 on page 51 in the book "Traditional Korean Furniture" by Edward Reynolds Wright and Man Sill Pai.
Another nearly identical Bandaji is illustrated on page 75 of "Korean Chests Treasures of the Yi Dynasty" by Wickman.
Another similar Pakchon Bandaji is held in the collection of Minneapolis Museum of Art, Accession Number2000.269.3.