KPC3318-3321: Korean craftsmanship (traditional craftwork)

Since long ago, Korean people have demonstrated excellent dexterity in multiple fields. Particularly, the traditional handicrafts which come with delicate and elaborate craftsmanship manifests the emotions and aesthetics of Korean people.

Knots are made by braiding strings of a variety of colors and can be used for clothes or accessories like the norigae, a traditional Korean ornament. Traditional Korean knots embody the beauty of balance thanks to their identical back and front sides, and symmetrical sides, as well as the beauty of order with their shape both starting and finishing in the middle. They are often shaped into everyday objects, flowers or insects and depict the traditional chinese character for (a) well (井) at their center.

Sewing is the art of making garments or accessories using a needle and thread. In the past, because clothes were only hand-made, sewing was a virtue that all women were required to have. One s mental attitude and posture were considered essential when it comes to sewing, leading women to perform this labor with all their hearts. Because most of Korea s traditional clothing has a flat composition, sewing techniques such as broadstitching, backstitching, hemming, blind stitching, basting, and hemstitching developed accordingly.

Chaesang is a box constructed from paper-like thin and colored strips of bamboo that are woven into geometric patterns. It is known to be the essence of bamboo-craft. These were mainly used by women of the court or noble class as containers for clothes, ornaments, or sewing kits until they became popular wedding gifts toward the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Often presenting a pattern or wording that describes happiness, the making of Chaesang requires delicate dexterity through its rigorous process. Embroidery is the art of sewing colored silk thread onto a fabric and creating a beautiful pattern. The older generations did not only add embroidery to garments and accessories, but also to various household items such as cushions, folding screens, and furniture. Traditional embroidery was not simply fabric decoration, it was a way of subtly expressing Korea s customs and beliefs of the time. Different techniques are used to create unique textures while twisting the threads such as pyeongsu, ieumsu, maedeupsu, jaryeonsu.