Announcement of National Registered Cultural Heritage Registration for the Korean Empire Royal Ceremony Craft 'Eunje Ihwamun Hap'

Permanent Exhibition at Seoul Craft Museum Featuring Works from the ‘Hansung Art Studio’ Established and Operated by the Korean Empire
First Production Case Introducing the New ‘Press Technique,’ Reflecting a Commitment to Quality Improvement

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The ceremonial craftwork "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" (銀製李花紋盒) made by the 'Hanseong Artworks Manufacturing Office' (1908?1913), the first institution established exclusively for the production of crafts for the Korean Empire royal family, is scheduled to be registered as a national registered cultural heritage on the 6th. The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect opinions from various sectors for a month and then make the final decision on registration through the Cultural Heritage Committee's review.

The "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is a cultural heritage item held by the Seoul Craft Museum and is on permanent display in the exhibition "Artisans, Benefiting the World" under the section "Crafts of the Korean Empire," allowing any citizen to view it.

The "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is a type of tanggi (湯器), a vessel with a lid made of silver, used to hold food. It measures 12.4 cm in height and 18.2 cm in diameter and is estimated to have been made between 1908 and 1910. It was produced not as an everyday utensil but for use in events or ceremonies of the Korean Empire royal family.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that it holds historical significance as it inherits the design of Joseon royal ceremonial crafts, is the first example to adopt the overseas new press technique, and demonstrates the continuation of craft traditions symbolized by the Korean Empire's emblematic plum blossom pattern.

First, the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is a craft made by the 'Hanseong Artworks Manufacturing Office,' established and operated by the Korean Empire royal family. According to a Maeil Shinbo article dated February 23, 1911, the Korean Empire established the Hanseong Artworks Manufacturing Office with the purpose of "inheriting and promoting Korea's unique traditional craft arts, improving manufacturing methods while keeping all designs Korean-style." The bottom of the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is engraved with the trademark "Hanseong Art" (漢城美術), which helps identify its place and time of manufacture. Besides the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box," only five other Hanseong Artworks pieces exist domestically, making it highly rare.

Accordingly, the Seoul Craft Museum stated, "It can be seen that the Korean Empire royal family actively sought to establish legitimacy by inheriting the forms and decorations of Joseon royal crafts despite the rapid changes in the global situation."

The "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is also notable as the first example to adopt the press technique, which is still used in modern vessel production. The press technique involves creating a mold for the craft and shaping metal plates by applying strong pressure. This reflects the adoption of advanced overseas manufacturing technology, showing the royal family's determination to enhance the quality of royal crafts and elevate the empire's status. It also reveals the era's characteristic transition of traditional crafts into modern methods.

Furthermore, the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" is significant in showing the continuation of crafts symbolizing the Korean Empire. When compared with the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Tanggi" (national registered cultural heritage No. 452, held by the National Palace Museum), produced by the successor institution 'Yiwangjik Artworks Manufacturing Office' (1911?1922), similarities in shape and pattern composition with the "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" can be observed.

The "Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box" features a lotus bud-shaped knob at the center of the lid, with the Korean Empire's emblematic plum blossom (plum blossom pattern) beautifully embossed around the knob. The side of the lid is decorated with the phrase "Mansu Mugang" (萬壽無疆, meaning "longevity without bounds") in classical seal script gilding. Between the characters, cloisonn? patterns embodying Taoist thought are engraved. The body of the vessel bears the inscription "Gilsang Yeoui" (吉祥如意, meaning "auspicious and as desired") in seal script.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "Unlike the 'Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Box,' which was enthusiastically produced using the new press technique by the Korean Empire royal family, the 'Silver Plum Blossom Patterned Tanggi' returned to traditional methods and was made using forging techniques, showing changes in craft history." They added, "It is an important case marking modern craft production technology and industrialization, and it is expected to serve as academically significant evidence for in-depth research on the history of Korean metal crafts."

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