100 Thimbles in a Box

100 Thimbles in a Box is a charming introduction to a great range of Korean handicrafts, from the tiny thimbles—an old-fashioned woman’s intimate companion—to the once ubiquitous lattice and paper doors of traditional Korean homes. The authors have tacked down popular accounts of each handicraft, as contemporary Koreans now understand and appreciate them, and abundant photographs that convey the feel and appeal of ceramics, stone, paintings, masks, clothing, and furniture. Spending time in these pages is an enticement to visit Korea for a first-hand encounter with these things themselves. Laurel Kendall Division Chair and Curator of Asian Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History

Foreword Preface Chapter 1 Introduction Handicrafts: Mirrors of the Soul Philosophical, Spiritual, and Religious Traditions in Korea Historical Timeline of the Korean Peninsula Chapter 2 Symbolism in Korean Handicrafts The Origins of Korean Symbols Individual Symbols Groups of Symbols Chapter 3 Ceramics & Clay Celadon Stoneware White Porcelain Earthenware Pots Roof Tiles Walls and Chimneys Chapter 4 Fiber Arts Thimbles Embroidery Ornamental Knotwork Gold Leaf Imprinting Wrapping Cloths Korean Patchwork Traditional Costume Accessories for Hanbok Chapter 5 Paper Handmade Paper Fans Kites Lanterns Chapter 6 Inlay Metal Inlay Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Ox Horn Decoration Chapter 7 Metal Furniture Hardware Bells Royal Gold Chapter 8 Wood Masks Drums Totem Poles Spirit Poles Stamps and Molds Wedding Geese Funerary Figures Temple Doors Furniture Windows and Doors Chapter 9 Painting Folk Paintings Paintings of Ten Longevity Symbols Paintings of Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks Character Paintings Scholar’s Study Paintings Folding Screens Genre Paintings Literati Paintings Documentary Paintings Architectural Painting Chapter 10 Handicrafts in Korea Today A Culture in Crisis Living National Treasures Five Generations of Superior Craftmanship Traditional Themes Coming of Age Reaching to the Past to Create the Future Pushing the Envelope The Tradition Lives On Acknowledgements References Index