The “Three-Tiered Cabinet with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay of Landscape Designs,” which is said to have been bestowed by King Gojong of Joseon to American missionary Henry Appenzeller, has been designated a national cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 25th that the artifact, owned by the Paichai School History Museum, was designated as a “National Folk Cultural Heritage.”
The cabinet stands 180 cm tall and is adorned with intricate mother-of-pearl designs featuring characters, flowers, fruits, and more. It is estimated to have been crafted in the late 19th century. Notably, examples of this size and craftsmanship are rare, significantly enhancing its value. At that time, such three-tiered cabinets were popular among the royal and upper classes and were considered essential when royal family members married or set up new households.
It is believed that American missionary Henry Appenzeller (1858–1902), who founded Paichai School, received this cabinet as a gift from King Gojong. The Paichai School History Museum received the artifact in 2022 as a donation from Diane Dodge Crom, Appenzeller’s great-granddaughter. The Cultural Heritage Administration described the cabinet as a key artifact showcasing the relationship between the Korean Empire’s royal family and Western missionaries.