Korean Keyaki Storage Chest

This early 20th century Korean cabinet was modified at some point in its life to combine a two-door paneled wardrobe (jang) with a low blanket chest (pandaji). The wardrobe was used to store clothing in a women's quarters, and the chest was used throughout the home to store books, scrolls, ancestor plates, or bedding.

Small hinged doors on the upper half open to reveal a newspaper-lined interior and three decorative panels on the cabinet front have been modified into shallow drawers. The chest is elevated by a low footed base to protect the contents from water and radiant floor heating. Punctuated by symmetrical brass hardware, the cabinet relies on the beautiful swirling grain patterns of keyaki elm and burl wood for its decorative appeal.