Scholar's accouterments (Ch'aekkori)

Ch'aekkori paintings always included books, bronzes, boxes of various kinds, lacquer, porcelain flower vases and bowls of fruit, writing paraphernalia (rolled scrolls of paper, brushes, ink sticks, and ink stone) and glass fishbowls, among other objects. There is literary evidence for the tradition of ch'aekkori from the late eighteenth century. Screens of this subject became a popular status symbol after King Chongjo (r. 1776-1800) placed one behind his desk in the men's quarters of the palace. Ch'aekkori paintings were also popular among ordinary people and always were painted in bright colors like folk paintings.

For a full discussion of Ch'aekkori screens, see Kay E. Black and Edward W. Wagner, "Court style Chaekkori," in Hopes and Aspirations: Decorative paintings of Korea, exh. cat. (San Francisco: Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1998), 21-35.

Two screens of this subject sold in these Rooms: 18 September, 2002, lot 425, and 29 March, 2005, lot 525.