Nong clothing chest - 이층농, Korea, 19th century Rectangular in shape with four front panels and two doors, it is made of black lacquered wood, finely inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The four central panels and the side panels are illustrated with scenes referring to episodes from the Twenty-four Examples of Filial Piety. The six legends depicted with their titles (reading from right to left) are as follows: 孟宗泣竹 - Meng Zong, whose sick mother wished to eat bamboo shoots in the middle of winter. He wept in a bamboo grove, and miraculously, shoots sprouted from the ground. 王祥剖冰 - Wang Xiang lay on the ice to melt a frozen pond to catch carp for his ailing mother-in-law. 子路負米 - Zi Lu, a disciple of Confucius, carried rice over long distances to feed his parents. 蘆操順母 - Lu cao, despite his mother's ill-treatment, remained obedient and respectful to her. 女宗知禮 - Nü Zong is praised for her knowledge of rites and respectful behavior toward her parents and in-laws. 王氏感燕 - Madame Wang was moved by swallows which, according to legend, reminded her of her parents' benevolence. Each panel is surrounded by a Greek frieze. A band of mother-of-pearl-inlaid tortoiseshell decorates the top and bottom of the chest's central section. The top of the cabinet is decorated, using the same technique, with a lake and mountain landscape, a pagoda and figures. Brass mounts are arranged around various door panels and the lock. A circular brass padlock closes both doors. This type of furniture is usually made up of two superimposed chests, sometimes resting on a base, and is known as "Ich'ung nong". A very similar pair of chests with different decoration is preserved at the Musée Guimet in the Korea section. 45 x 77 x 36 cm Some missing mother-of-pearl, padlock key redone.