Hanji Mother of Pearl Butterfly Saju Wedding Box Najeon (Red) Jewelry Box Yedan Wedding Gift Box

Overview

A saju box built up in hanji — Korean mulberry paper — rather than solid wood, then lacquered red and inlaid with mother-of-pearl butterflies. Hanji construction makes the box noticeably lighter than a comparable wooden one while staying rigid, and it takes lacquer well. Red is the conventional color for the bride's side of a Korean wedding exchange.

Heritage & Craft

Layered-paper bodies have their own place in Korean craft: sheets of hanji are pasted over a form, dried, and built up until the shell is stiff enough to hold a clean edge, then sealed and lacquered. Shell is set into that lacquer exactly as it would be on wood — cut, laid, covered, and rubbed back until it sits flush.

Butterflies are chosen for wedding boxes because they arrive in pairs. In Korean decoration a paired butterfly signifies a settled marriage rather than a courtship, which is why the motif appears on saju and yedan pieces more often than on anything else.

Specifications

• Material: Lacquered hanji (mulberry paper) body with natural mother-of-pearl inlay
• Motif: Butterflies (marital happiness)
• Color: Red
• Purpose: Saju / yedan wedding box; doubles as a jewelry box
• Origin: Handmade in South Korea
• Brand: K-Crafts | Code: KS-P0000THO

Gifting

Made for Korean wedding exchanges, but its light weight also makes it the easiest piece in this group to carry home or ship abroad. A good engagement or wedding gift, and a practical jewelry box long afterwards.