{"product_id":"mother-of-pearl-jewelry-box-pine-tree-and-crane-motif-on-red-hanji-ground","title":"Mother of Pearl Jewelry Box: Pine Tree and Crane Motif on Red Hanji Ground","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis piece is chosen by those who recognize vitality and auspicious meaning expressed through restraint rather than excess.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“A living landscape unfolds, warm with energy yet held in careful balance.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis jewellery box is conceived as a narrative surface as much as a functional object. The butterfly-shaped metal handle provides a gentle point of entry; lifting the lid reveals an interior for treasured possessions, with a mirror set inside the lid for quiet use and reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcross the surface, thinly worked shell pieces are cut and arranged to depict a monumental pine tree, its trunk flowing from the lid down the front of the box. In Korean tradition, the pine represents steadfastness and long life, while red has long been associated with vitality, protection, and auspicious force. Together, they form a composition that speaks of enduring life energy rather than decoration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCranes move through the scene with measured grace, symbols of longevity and noble spirit. Their presence lightens the composition, introducing rhythm and air around the pine’s strong vertical form. Near the base of the tree, small squirrels are delicately rendered, their movement adding intimacy and gentle humour to the scene. This balance between the monumental and the familiar reflects a traditional sensitivity to harmony and scale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pine needles are formed using a different variety of shell, subtly distinguished in tone and texture. This variation animates the surface without overwhelming it, allowing light to gather and disperse across the tree’s form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeneath the layered shellwork lies a ground of traditional Korean hanji, dyed to a deep, resonant red and wrapped around the body before the decorative surface is completed. The colour is absorbed into the fibres of the paper, producing warmth without gloss and intensity without glare. Against this vital ground, the shellwork appears composed, its iridescence tempered and controlled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe red hanji lends the landscape a sense of life and auspicious presence, yet the overall tone remains measured. Rather than exuberance, the colour conveys contained energy—strength held in balance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe box’s proportions are compact, its edges softened, and its fittings discreet. Nothing seeks excess. The object invites engagement through touch, familiarity, and repeated opening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this way, the box exists not as ornament, but as a living presence—holding what is precious within a landscape shaped by vitality, continuity, and quiet auspicious meaning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLength- 17cm (6.69 inch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepth- 11cm (4.33 inch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight- 7cm (2.76 inch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelated Links\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artinko.com\/blogs\/korean-culture\/about-mother-of-pearl-art\"\u003eAbout Mother of Pearl Art\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Mother of Pearls","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42681579405543,"sku":"","price":77.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0634\/0100\/1191\/products\/il_fullxfull.3325779916_272e.jpg?v=1646882145","url":"https:\/\/www.artinko.com\/products\/mother-of-pearl-jewelry-box-pine-tree-and-crane-motif-on-red-hanji-ground","provider":"ArtinKo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}