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Few artisans in Korea ever earn this rank - a lifetime of lacquer and mother-of-pearl, recognized at the highest level by the nation itself.

Korean Master Hand. Officially Certified by the Republic of Korea

Mother-of-pearl, laid shard by shard into lacquer - a centuries-old discipline only a handful of hands in Korea still command.

A Tradition Few Hands Still Command

On September 1, 2017, the Republic of Korea named Choi Tae-hwa Korean Master Hand No. 623 - a title earned, never given.

Officially Certified by the Republic of Korea. No. 623

Since 1974, one master has devoted his life to mother-of-pearl and lacquer — patient, exacting, unhurried.

Fifty Years in the Making

Beyond the workshop, in his own words - the discipline, the setbacks, and the quiet conviction behind a life in craft.

THE MASTER BEHIND THE MASTERPIECE

Najeonchilgi traces back nearly a thousand years in Korea. Choi Tae-hwa now carries that lineage forward, one piece at a time.

A Thousand Years of Artistry

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6 products

Celestial Twin Cranes & Auspicious Clouds
Celestial Twin Cranes & Auspicious Clouds Sale price$4,215.00
Mother-of-Pearl 'Gyeongdae' Vanity Chest
Mother-of-Pearl 'Gyeongdae' Vanity Chest Sale price$3,645.00
Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Lacquer Box with Cranes and Pines
Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Lacquer Box with Cranes and Pines Sale price$3,610.00
The Garden of Eternal Harmony — Grand Master’s Mirror Chest with Inlaid Flora, Butterflies, and Insects
The Garden of Eternal Harmony — Grand Master’s Mirror Chest with Inlaid Flora, Butterflies, and Insects Sale price$3,360.00
CRANE OF A THOUSAND YEARS
CRANE OF A THOUSAND YEARS Sale price$700.00
The Garden of Everlasting Bonds
The Garden of Everlasting Bonds Sale price$900.00
MASTER CHOI TAEWHA

MASTER CHOI TAEWHA

Master Choi Tae-hwa - Korean Najeon Chilgi - Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware 
Discover the signature works of Master Choi Tae-hwa, an officially recognized Korean Master Artisan. Crafted entirely by hand using traditional, eco-conscious materials, each piece reveals a quiet radiance - where color, texture, and devotion meet in perfect balance.

A museum-scale panoramic work

Songhak Nokwondo

it features cranes, pine, and Sipjangsaeng motifs—an enduring visual language of longevity and auspicious blessing in Korean art.

Completed over nine months

A museum-scale panoramic work of Korean najeonchilgi (mother-of-pearl inlay lacquerware)

Songhak Nokwondo

measuring 138.19 × 39.37 in (3510 × 1000 mm)

A monumental panoramic work of Korean Najeonchilgi—mother-of-pearl inlay lacquerware—Songhak Nokwondo was created over nine months as a luminous meditation on longevity, harmony, and the natural world. Cranes rise among venerable pines, deer move across open meadows, and waterbirds gather upon the lake, while the auspicious imagery of Sipjangsaeng—the Ten Symbols of Longevity—unfolds across the composition.

Every iridescent passage is meticulously shaped and inlaid by hand, allowing mother-of-pearl and natural lacquer to respond to light with extraordinary depth, movement, and radiance. Rare in both scale and complexity, the work was conceived not merely as a decorative wall panel, but as a commanding cultural heirloom—created for collectors of exceptional Korean heritage art and destined to endure across generations.

Rare at this scale and depth, this piece is conceived as an heirloom-grade statement for collectors of exceptional East Asian heritage arts.

Korea Museum of Master Craftsmanship Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea

Najeonchilgi Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Lacquer Wardrobe Auspicious Phoenix & Deer Motifs

Choi Tae-hwa’s atelier holds the Baeknyeon Sogongin designation from Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, recognizing its skilled craftsmanship and potential to thrive for generations.

A Legacy Worth Carrying Forward

Authenticity Verified

Authenticity & Certification

Insured Express Shipping

Insured Express Shipping

Duties & Taxes Guidance

Duties & Taxes Guidance

Care & Maintenance

Care & Maintenance

VIP Concierge

VIP Concierge

SECURE CHECKOUT

SECURE CHECKOUT

THE SIGNATURE LEGACY STANDARD

CONFIDENCE, DOCUMENTED AT EVERY STAGE

Every work is created by a nationally recognized Korean master and supported by documented authorship, detailed provenance, private collector guidance, and carefully coordinated international delivery.

VERIFIED AUTHORSHIP

RECOGNIZED MASTER ARTISANS

The master artisan’s official designation, authorship, and essential work details are carefully reviewed and recorded.

SECURE INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY

PROTECTED IN TRANSIT

Bespoke protective packaging, trackable delivery, and insurance confirmation where coverage is available.

PRIVATE CLIENT CONCIERGE

PERSONAL GUIDANCE

Discreet, informed assistance before, throughout, and after your acquisition.

DOCUMENTED PROVENANCE

AN ENDURING RECORD

A signed Certificate of Authenticity and an archival provenance record, with documentary content where available.

COLLECTOR PROMISE

A LIVING HERITAGE, MADE TO ENDURE

Each work carries forward a Korean tradition refined across generations—created by a recognized master artisan and entrusted to the collector who will preserve its next chapter.

ITS ORIGIN, CLEARLY RECORDED

Verified authorship, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and an archival provenance record accompany every acquisition—preserving the work’s identity and story for generations.

CARED FOR FROM ATELIER TO ARRIVAL

From bespoke protective packaging to trackable delivery and insurance confirmation where available, every stage is thoughtfully coordinated to safeguard your acquisition in transit.

LEGAL & POLICIES