From Goryeo Incense Burners to Joseon Portraits... A Time Travel Through Antique Artifacts

Korean Association of Ancient Art, Members' Exhibition on the 24th 'Opening Hearts to Old Lives'
Exhibiting Over 1,500 Rare Ancient Artifacts Together
Highlights Include 'Bronze Inlaid Incense Burner with Flowing Gold Pattern' and 'Great Goryeo National Seal'

Bronze Inlaid Incense Burner with Water and Fish Pattern Pair

The recently discovered and repatriated “Bronze Silver Inlaid Willow and Waterfowl Pattern Incense Burner Pair (Cheongdong Eunipsa Poryu Sugummun Hyangwan Ssang, 靑銅銀入絲蒲柳水禽紋香? 雙)” from a Japanese temple is a typical incense burner (a type of censer used for burning incense in Buddhist temples) from the Goryeo period. It consists of a body with a wide rim and a trumpet-shaped base. Its size is 25 cm in height and 25.5 cm in mouth diameter. The front depicts a lyrical scene of reeds, weeping willows, and ducks. It was made using the silver inlay (Eunipsa, 銀入絲) technique, where patterns are carved into the bronze base and silver is inlaid, showcasing high artistic value.

Along with the “Bronze Silver Inlaid Willow and Waterfowl Pattern Incense Burner Pair,” over 1,500 rare antiques such as the “Great Goryeo State Seal (Daegoryeoguksae, 大高麗國璽)” and “Ssangcheongru (雙淸樓)” will be gathered. This is at the members’ exhibition “Opening the Heart to the Old Life” held by the Korean Antique Art Association from the 24th to the 30th at the Arart Center in Insadong. It is a time travel to glimpse the simple and rustic charm of our cultural heritage. The exhibition features calligraphy and paintings, wooden furniture, ceramics, metal crafts, earthenware, and embroidery that embody the refined aesthetics and wisdom of our ancestors.

Dae Goryeo Guksae

The most attention-grabbing “Bronze Silver Inlaid Willow and Waterfowl Pattern Incense Burner Pair” has patterns on the body almost identical to those on the Bronze Silver Inlaid Willow and Waterfowl Pattern Vase (National Treasure No. 92). Therefore, it is estimated to have been made in the 11th century during the Goryeo period. An official stated, “The silver inlaid patterns are exquisite not only on the body but also on the trumpet-shaped base,” adding, “Being discovered as a pair adds to its high value.”

The “Great Goryeo State Seal” is a cast seal measuring 12×9 cm. Among seals from the same period that have been publicly revealed so far, it has the deepest character engravings. An official speculated, “It was probably used to mark Goryeo products on wooden boxes packaging Goryeo export goods.”

Han Seok-bong's Autographed Calligraphy 'Ssangcheongnu'

“Ssangcheongru” is a calligraphic work with a handwritten inscription by Han Seokbong, written on a wooden panel in his distinctive strong and upright bold script. Seokbong Han Ho is regarded as one of the two great calligraphers of Joseon alongside Chusa Kim Jeonghui. His calligraphy can be found on many temple and seowon (Confucian academy) plaques nationwide.

The exhibition also features a portrait of Hwang Heon (黃?), a mid-Joseon dynasty civil official. Hwang Heon was a royal subject honored with first-class merit for exposing the rebellion of Sim Giwon (沈器遠) in the 22nd year of King Injo’s reign (1644). However, since it was considered against public opinion for the accuser to receive the highest honor, his rank was reduced to second-class, and he was ennobled as Hoechung Bunwi Byeong Gi Nyeongguk Gongshin (效忠奮威炳幾寧國功臣) with the title Hoeheunggun (檜興君). He was implicated in the Kim Jajeom case in the 2nd year of King Hyojong’s reign (1651) but was acquitted and reinstated, later serving as Pyeongan Byeongsa (military commander of Pyeongan Province) and Tongjesa (naval commander). In the portrait, he is depicted seated in official robes. The work is praised for its realistic depiction using traditional Joseon portrait techniques, capturing not only physical likeness but also inner spirit.

Portrait of Hwang Heon (黃?)

Among ceramics, four 18th-century white porcelain jars expressing the calm and refined aesthetics of Joseon attract attention. Each has a body symmetrically balanced left and right. A clear and transparent glaze was applied over pure white clay, and the seam in the middle of the body was neatly finished. One side of the body is pure white, while the other side bears pink traces reminiscent of plum blossoms.

Recently, there has been growing interest in old furniture, which is also introduced in various forms. These include wardrobes, medicine cabinets, and cupboards, as well as chests (jang) and long chests (long) for storing clothes, drawers (gwe) for books, dishes, and coins, soban (small wooden tables used for serving food or tea), and seoan (desks used for reading and placing books). Particularly notable is the “Four-tier bookshelf” made of pear and hackberry wood, displayed alongside books as it was used to store eighty volumes of the Four Books and Three Classics.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.