Korea, 19th century. Ink and watercolors on paper. The eight vertical ‘Scholars Accoutrements’ paintings mounted as an eight-panel folding screen depicting an array of books, scrolls, and other items associated with a scholar's studio. With silk brocade mounting, hardwood frame, and metal fittings. The lower section of the first panel from the right, showing a variety of seals, is painted with a hidden artist signature in the form of a seal face.

Provenance: From an old German private collection, acquired in Korea during the 1970s, and thence by descent within the same family.
Condition: Good original condition with some old wear. Minor tears, creases, losses, little soiling, and fading along the edges. Overall displaying spectacularly well. Exceedingly hard to find in this near-pristine state of preservation.

Weight: 12.6 kg
Dimensions: Screen size 179 x 342 cm, Image size 139 x 328.6 cm

The Chinese-style books on screens of the present type are usually depicted closed, stacked in sets wrapped in slipcases. Joseon-dynasty scholars sat on thin cushions on the floor and worked at small, portable desks. Chaekgeori is a Confucian theme, directly related to the scholarly aspiration of the landed gentry, the scholar-officials of the Joseon-dynasty government. Yet, bookstack screens were popular in the homes of commoners, as well, symbolizing the Confucian ideals of education and self-improvement, and perhaps providing inspiration to the family's children. There is literary evidence that this subject became a status symbol after King Jeongjo (reigned 1776-1800) placed one behind his desk in the men's quarters of the palace.

Expert’s note: Functioning the same way as a signature in Western art, a seal impression on a chaekgeori screen is sometimes included to reveal the painter’s identity. It is called a ‘hidden’ seal due to its discreet placement. Only about 12 works with such a ‘hidden’ seal are known today.

Literature comparison:
Compare with a closely related ten-panel folding screen, also signed with a hidden seal, in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 2011.37. For a full discussion of Chaekgeori screens, see Kay E. Black and Edward W. Wagner, "Court style Ch'aekkori," in Hopes and Aspirations: Decorative Paintings of Korea, exhibition catalog (Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1998), 21-35, and also Black and Wagner, "Ch'aekkori Paintings: A Korean Jigsaw Puzzle," Archives of Asian Art 46 (1993), 63-75.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Remotely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 22 July 2020, lot 1183
Price: USD 16,325 or approx. EUR 17,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Chaekgeori (Scholar's accoutrements), Joseon dynasty (1392-1897), 19th century

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Galerie Zacke Vienna, 6 March 2021, lot 659
Price: EUR 17,696 or approx. EUR 19,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A ‘chaekgori’ six-panel screen, Joseon dynasty, with ‘hidden’ artist seal
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of painting and motifs. Note that the lot only comprises a six-panel screen.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2011, lot 992
Price: USD 458,500 or approx. EUR 564,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Scholar's Accouterments (chaekgori), second half 19th century
Expert remark: Note that the lot comprises a ten-panel screen (139 x 29 cm each panel), and that the painting is executed in ink and color on silk instead of paper.



朝鮮王朝八片靜物畫屏，隱藏的藝術家鈴印
韓國，十九世紀，紙本設色。八片靜物畫屏安裝為一個八片折疊屏風，描繪了一系列文房用品如書籍、捲軸和其他物品。絲綢錦架，硬木框架和金屬配件。右起第一個畫屏的下部，展示了各種印章，以印章的形式隱藏的藝術家簽名。

來源：德國私人舊藏，上世紀七十年代購於韓國，保存在同一家族至今。
品相：品相良好，有些磨損。邊緣有輕微撕裂、摺痕、缺損、少量污漬和褪色。整體狀況極好。

重量：12.6 公斤
尺寸：畫屏179 x 342 厘米，畫面 139 x 328.6 厘米

這種屏風上的中式書籍通常合上，并成套包裹起來疊放。朝鮮王朝的文人們坐在地板上的薄墊子上，在小巧便攜的辦公桌前工作。靜物畫屏是一個儒家主題，與朝鮮王朝政府的士族學術願望直接相關。不過，書架屏風在平民家庭中也很流行，象徵著儒家的教育和自我提升的理想。 有文學依據表明，在正祖（1776-1800 年在位）時，一個貴族男孩的書桌後放置一個畫屏，是身份的象徵。

專家注釋：與西方藝術中的簽名意義相同，朝鮮王朝的藝術家也會在靜物畫屏加印章以揭示藝術家的身份。由於其隱蔽的位置，它被稱為“隱藏”印。 如今，大約只有十二件帶有這種“隱藏”印章的作品為人所知。

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的十片冊架圖畫屏，亦有隱藏式印章，收藏於克利夫蘭藝術博物館，編號2011.37。一件靜物畫屏，見Kay E. Black，Edward W. Wagner，〈Court style Ch'aekkori〉， 《Hopes and Aspirations: Decorative Paintings of Korea》，展覽圖錄(舊金山亞洲藝術博物，1998年)，頁21-35；也見Black and Wagner，〈Ch'aekkori Paintings: A Korean Jigsaw Puzzle〉，《Archives of Asian Art 46 (1993)》，頁63-75。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：稍微相近
拍賣：紐約邦瀚斯，2020年7月22日，lot 1183
價格：USD 16,325（相當於今日EUR 17,500）
描述：十九世紀朝鮮王朝靜物畫屏

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：維也納Zacke藝廊，2021年3月6日，lot 659
價格：EUR 17,696（相當於今日EUR 19,000）
描述：朝鮮王朝彩繪“文房清玩”六折屏風
專家評論：比較非常相近的繪畫風格和主題。請注意此屏僅有六片。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年3月23日，lot 992
價格：USD 458,500（相當於今日EUR 564,500）
描述：十九世紀下半葉靜物畫屏
專家評論：請注意此屏僅有十片(各139 x 29 厘米)，以及其為絹本設色非紙本。