Korean Pandaji Blanket Chest

This elegant wooden cabinet is a 19th-century Korean blanket chest (pandaji) used throughout the home to store books, ancestor plates, or bedding. The chest opens by a hinged panel on the front, which drops downwards to reveal a large interior compartment. The chest is crafted of beautiful keyaki elmwood with dovetail joinery and hand-worked iron hardware. Decorative floral studs secure simple drop handles and iron staples for reinforcing the exterior edges. The large lock plate has a flared shape and is held closed by a traditional lock, complete with a brass key. In contrast to the warm coloring of the elm panels, the iron hardware is finished with a layer of lacquer for a dark black color and a beautiful patina that calls to be touched.