The second you step into Crown Antiques, you know that the family that runs the shop is passionate about Korean furniture. "All of our things are made in Korea. Of course it costs more to buy Korean craftsmanship, compared to Chinese, but we really take pride in the quality of our goods."

"Look at this blanket chest. In the old days Korean people would store their blankets on top of it after they folded them away for the day." One of the proprietors invites me to feel the smooth texture of the wood. "This one has really nice skin. It came from Gwanwan province you know, it's a ski area. You can store your ski clothes in here in the summer. See how the height is up to your belly button? You don't have to bend down all the time to use it."

She proceeded to show me some of the details. There were images of bats on the handles. "Back then, people believed that the bats would protect them at night." It was a bit of a gothic idea, but then she took a small plant in a delicately crafted pot and placed it on the chest. "In here there are a lot of things to look at, but imagine this piece in the right room. It will really stand out. It's such a beautiful piece and it's just looking for the right owner." I almost felt like I was adopting a stray puppy instead of buying furniture.

We moved our attentions onto a striking medicine cabinet. "This one is very special. You can't get a medicine chest like this anymore. A few years ago, you could have gotten a better price for this sort of chest, but these days it's very rare. Look at the slim wood of the drawers." She says as she pulls one out of the chest. "See these dovetail bindings at the corners and these bamboo nails that they used? You can't get something of this quality anymore. These are the marks of a fine piece of handcrafted furniture. Its lines are very feminine as opposed to the one in the window. That one is solid, square and has more of a masculine feel."

Then it was time to examine a hollow wood table with a sheet of glass over it. "In ancient times this table was used as a sedan chair for rich men. There were no cars back then, so if a wealthy man had a long way to travel, he could sit in this chair and have his servants carry it. Reach inside the table and pull on this little compartment. This is where he could keep his important documents or even store his lunch if he wanted! These days things like this have no use, so we put glass on top of it and made it a coffee table."

Next we looked at another chest with elaborate cast iron carvings. Apparently a craftsman with a pick and a chisel banged out each and every pattern on the chest. "This is a lost art form. Iron is very temperamental. When you hit it one way, the other side gets deformed, so to make intricate patterns like these took a lot of work."

"See how this piece of iron is bent? You know why? It's because the wood underneath it is like breath. It expands and contracts with the change of seasons. People think there is something wrong with their chest, but there isn't. Wood is like skin. It needs moisture or it can get really dry. You should oil it regularly in the winter or place a cup of water in it for humidity."

There were recurring themes on many of the antiques such as chrysanthemums and diamonds. Diamond patterns symbolized wealth.

Some pieces came from North Korea and are very hard to find in Seoul. These were characterized by long vertical pieces of metal that hinged at the openings.

My companion vouched for the popularity of the shop. "The person who referred me to this place says that this is one of the best places to buy Korean antiques. Not only do they have great stuff, but you get an education just coming in here!"

Although I didn't buy anything this time around, I left the store feeling like we had just gotten a free lesson on Korean history and art appreciation. It was really great to be able to shop in a place where the owners had great pride and knowledge about what they were selling. "We are very proud of our furniture and we have really good relationships with our clients." The family was so kind, they even gave me a bottle of Old English wood polish for future use.

Like beautiful works of art, antique furniture enhances its surroundings and can be a great topic of conversation. The right piece in the right room will bring you joy every time you look at it.

For more information drop by Crown Antiques 100 meters from the Crown Hotel. Or call 793-7459

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