Early 1900s Korean Wedding Box/ Dowry Chest

This listing is for a black lacquered wedding box/dowry chest.

This piece comes from Korea and it dates to the early 1900s.

This type of chest is called a “hahm ((함).”

In historical Korean tradition, prior to the wedding, the hahm would be delivered by a groom and his male friends to the family home of the bride. The box would contain gifts from the groom’s family in gratitude for allowing the bride’s hand in marriage.

This box has all of the traditional elements typically seen on hahm chests.

The metalwork depicts designs of lotus and pullocho (a type of fungus), signs of longevity.

The edges and detailing are colored with red, the color of celebrations and prosperity.

The top has the Chinese character for double happiness carved into the center. The front has the Chinese characters for luck (福) and longevity (寿) carved left and right.

As a result of Chinese influence, Chinese characters were historically used in Korea for formal writings and events.

26.25 x 14 x 14 inches