This little store in Insa-Dong, Seoul, South Korea is such a gem that every visitor should check out. I've been fascinated by Korean mother-of-pearl art and owning one has been on my wishlist for a long time. You can find a few mother-of-pearl jewelry boxes or other home goods on Amazon or Etsy; however, the quality is not as great as the ones that are made by Korean artists. I went into this store and was mesmerized by the sheer number of products it carried.
There were so many interesting products that were uniquely Korean - from jewelry boxes to mugs, the store had a wide assortment of high-quality gifts.
The picture does not do justice! The lustrous and subtle sheen of mother-of-pearl accents is so luminous in person. The mother-of-pearl accents cast an incandescent and shimmery glow from different angles.
The flippable screens on the second row are miniature Korean wall screens. The full-sized screens were used to divide a room into sections and served a decorative purpose in Korean houses back in the past.
There were storage boxes in different sizes, designs, and colors.
Some people are wary of owning mother-of-pearl art pieces because they tend to be more traditional. But when staged right, the right mother-of-pearl object can be a statement piece even in a modern home. I was particularly drawn to the orange and sky-blue jewelry boxes in the photo. These colors emanate much younger vibes, ideal for more modern interiors.
The salesperson was very friendly and knowledgeable. Many of the boxes the store carried were handmade by Korean artists.
The store had other Korean traditional souvenirs, such as wooden dolls, framed wall arts and traditional masks.
The round tray-looking things are tea tables. These compact tables were used as dinner tables in the past as many Koreans used to dine sitting on the floor. Now, these highly articulated and decorative tables are used as dessert and tea tables.
It was so hard to choose one because every piece was so artistic and ornate. I couldn't buy larger items like jewelry boxes because they would take up too much room in my luggage, so I bought this plate. A display pedestal is included in the purchase.
It comes gift-wrapped like this - it's going to make a great gift to anyone.
Isn't this gorgeous? The dish is full of details and looks so much more expensive than it actually was. I paid about $130.
This little store in Insa-Dong, Seoul, South Korea is such a gem that every visitor should check out. I've been fascinated by Korean mother-of-pearl art and owning one has been on my wishlist for a long time. You can find a few mother-of-pearl jewelry boxes or other home goods on Amazon or Etsy; however, the quality is not as great as the ones that are made by Korean artists. I went into this store and was mesmerized by the sheer number of products it carried.
There were so many interesting products that were uniquely Korean - from jewelry boxes to mugs, the store had a wide assortment of high-quality gifts.
The picture does not do justice! The lustrous and subtle sheen of mother-of-pearl accents is so luminous in person. The mother-of-pearl accents cast an incandescent and shimmery glow from different angles.
The flippable screens on the second row are miniature Korean wall screens. The full-sized screens were used to divide a room into sections and served a decorative purpose in Korean houses back in the past.
There were storage boxes in different sizes, designs, and colors.
Some people are wary of owning mother-of-pearl art pieces because they tend to be more traditional. But when staged right, the right mother-of-pearl object can be a statement piece even in a modern home. I was particularly drawn to the orange and sky-blue jewelry boxes in the photo. These colors emanate much younger vibes, ideal for more modern interiors.
The salesperson was very friendly and knowledgeable. Many of the boxes the store carried were handmade by Korean artists.
The store had other Korean traditional souvenirs, such as wooden dolls, framed wall arts and traditional masks.
The round tray-looking things are tea tables. These compact tables were used as dinner tables in the past as many Koreans used to dine sitting on the floor. Now, these highly articulated and decorative tables are used as dessert and tea tables.
It was so hard to choose one because every piece was so artistic and ornate. I couldn't buy larger items like jewelry boxes because they would take up too much room in my luggage, so I bought this plate. A display pedestal is included in the purchase.
It comes gift-wrapped like this - it's going to make a great gift to anyone.
Isn't this gorgeous? The dish is full of details and looks so much more expensive than it actually was. I paid about $130.