"Najeon Three-Tier Chest" Bestowed by Emperor Gojong to Appenzeller Designated as National Heritage

Preserved by Four Generations of the Appenzeller Family
Showcasing Imperial Culture of the Late 19th Century
Exemplifies Distinctive Features of Tongyeong Furniture

Najeon San Su Pattern Three-Tier Chest

A traditional piece of furniture believed to have been bestowed by Emperor Gojong to American missionary Henry Appenzeller will now be managed as a national heritage asset.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 25th that the "Najeon Sansu Pattern Three-Tier Chest," housed at the Paichai Academy History Museum in Jung-gu, Seoul, has been designated as a National Folk Cultural Heritage.

This piece was crafted in the late 19th century and measures 114.9 cm in width, 54.6 cm in depth, and 180.3 cm in height. Multicolored mother-of-pearl is intricately inlaid on a black lacquered base. Landscape paintings and character patterns are arranged on the front and both sides.

Inside the six doors, flowers and stones are depicted in vibrant colors, showcasing decorative beauty that blends painting and craftsmanship.

The Appenzeller family, who founded Paichai Academy, preserved the chest for generations until it was donated to the museum in 2022 by his great-granddaughter, Diane Dozier Crom. Crom is the granddaughter of Ida, Appenzeller's second daughter. The museum explained, "This artifact was bestowed by Emperor Gojong in recognition of educational contributions."

Appenzeller came to Joseon in 1885, where he taught English and modern studies to young people, and in 1887 established Bethel Chapel, the predecessor of Jeongdong First Methodist Church.

Landscape figure painting on the front left side

Experts regard this three-tier chest as a valuable example of daily furniture popular among the royal family and upper class during the late Joseon Dynasty, and as a representative piece of furniture from Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. The distinctive features of Tongyeong furniture are evident in the short protruding top panel and the flat processing of the entire front. Traditional techniques such as cutting and attaching mother-of-pearl or carving it in segments have also been applied, greatly enhancing its research value.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "This is a rare example illustrating the relationship between the imperial family of the Korean Empire and Western missionaries at the end of the 19th century," adding, "There are almost no other three-tier chests of this size and style, either in Korea or abroad."

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