Large, Korean Silver-Inlaid Iron Tobacco Chest

This unusually large iron chest inlaid with silver probably was intended as a tobacco box.

It has two rounded covers which pull off completely and which cover two chambers. Each cover has a central, stylised longevity or long-life motif (hanja) character (壽 su).

The sides are decorated with roundels of pairs of deer, and birds. The rest of the box is decorated in stylised ‘cash’ symbols in trellis form.

The practice of smoking tobacco was introduced to Korea in the early seventeenth century. It spread to all social classes, and soon there was demand for objects that could contain shredded tobacco leaves and keep them airtight. Boxes such as this example became fashionable. The silver inlay was based on the traditional Korean practice of inlaying mother-of-pearl into lacquer.

See a small example in the National Museum of Korea.

The example here is in fine condition. There are only minor losses to the silver inlay. The box is unusually large as far at this genre of Korean tobacco boxes is concerned. The lids fit tightly. and there are no dents or repairs.