• Joseon Dynasty, 16th–17th centuries
• Tokyo National Museum

This work exemplifies a new tradition in early Joseon lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The enlarged peonies appear in two forms—fully bloomed and in bud—while the thick stems are formed by joining short, carefully cut strips of mother-of-pearl, creating a harmonious balance with the floral motifs. The leaves are rendered with naturalistic curves, as if fluttering in the wind, reflecting the artisan’s intent to pursue a more lifelike depiction and to establish a new stylistic direction. The use of tachalbeop (a technique of artificially cracking the mother-of-pearl surface) on the flowers and leaves is also a distinctive feature of early Joseon lacquerware.