Box

The traditional painted ox-horn or hwagak objects have been extremely popular among Korean women. The hwagak is a unique Korean craft in which designs are painted on the backs of small ox-horn, which are then glued onto the wooden frames of articles such as sewing and ornament boxes. The design motifs on this box have auspicious symbolism. The deer, turtle, and yeongji fungus, for instance, are longevity symbols, while the phoenix and peony represent peace, harmony, and prosperity. This box had been in the collection of a Japanese tea master in Kanazawa.