Korean Jeonju Jang Cabinet on Stand - 19th Century

This beautiful antique Korean chest on stand is a very unusual style and called a Jeonju Jang (also sometimes called chonju bandaji). This is characterised by a series of drawers over a double door over a bandaji-type front opening compartment. This unusual style is only found in Jeonju city and would have been used for storing books (a book cabinet). 

The white brass hardware suggests a good age and features a central butterfly motif which would have been surrounded by butterfly hinges, now replaced by a simpler hinge system. The drawers depict bats, a lucky symbol in Korea and much of the far east. 

This Korean cabinet dates to the second half of the 19th century and is constructed from luxurious maple (tanp'ung) wood with tiger banding on giving a rich orange tone. The frame is red elm (zelkova). 

Jeonju is the largest city in North Jeolla Province of South Korea. Jang Inch Ung Jang cabinet seperates into two parts and rests on a carved stand. It  dates from the 19th century and  ismade from burr elm wood. 

This cabinet separates into two and has two large storage areas and four drawers.