Korean Mother of Pearl Lacquerware (Najeonchilgi): What It Is and Where To Buy It

Last Updated on April 19, 2026

I LOVE najeonchilgi (나전칠기) and think it’s an underrated gift from Korea that I wish more people knew about. Najeonchilgi, or mother-of-pearl lacquerware in English, is beautiful and has an amazing history behind it. This Korean handicraft used to be really popular in Korea but has gone out of fashion over the years which has decreased the number of craftsmen making it now. That, though, has also increased the value.

Want to get your hands on some beautiful Korean souvenirs? You can buy them in Korea but also while you’re abroad and I’m going to tell you how to make sure you get an authentic piece of Korean mother of pearl lacquerware. Korean mother of pearl lacquerware is a great souvenir from Korea or a gift from Korea that I highly recommend.

Whether you’re in Korea and want to know where to find it, or you’re back home and want to buy it online, here is everything you need to know.

• What does najeonchilgi mean?
• The History of Najeonchilgi
• What is Mother of Pearl?
• What Does Najeonchilgi Look Like?
• Who Makes Mother of Pearl Lacquerware in Korea?
• Where To Buy Korean Mother of Pearl Lacquerware
  • Outside of Korea — Online
  • In Seoul
• FAQ

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What Does Najeonchilgi Mean?

The word breaks down into two parts. Najeon (나전) means mother of pearl. Chilgi (칠기) means lacquerware. Put them together and you have the full picture: wood lacquered with mother of pearl inlay, built up through a process that can take more than 30 individual steps.

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The History of Najeonchilgi

Najeonchilgi is a method of lacquering wood with mother of pearl. Lacquering wood was first introduced to Korea from China during the Three Kingdom Period from 57BC to 668AD and the mother of pearl lacquerware was introduced during the Shilla Period from 668AD to 935AD. It wasn’t until the Goryeo Dynasty from 918 to 1392 that this Korean handicraft really experienced it’s golden age though.

During the Goryeo Dynasty, it was aristocrats that owned mother of pearl lacquerware products appreciating the intricate detail and eloquent designs and patterns of the products. These products would even be gifted to diplomats and foreign visitors as precious gifts from Korea which helped to make it a representative product of Korea to the outside world.

During the Joseon Dynasty, designs became more simplified though no less beautiful and the popularity of the product continued to increase. During the Japanese colonization from 1910 to 1945, the trade was severely restricted but came back swiftly after independence. Mother of pearl lacquerware again flourished in Korea during the 1960s and 1970s and was a symbol of wealth during the Korean economic boom.

The craft was actually named an intangible cultural heritage in 1966. Unfortunately, with the major popularity and a lot more people buying the beautiful pieces, abalone shells began to disappear in the waters of Korea so the price was pushed up meaning less people could purchase the products. Ultimately, abalone shells were imported from Australia, Taiwan, and the Philippines to fill the void, but as the price had been pushed up to extortionate levels, popularity dwindled in the 1980s and 1990s.

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What is Mother of Pearl?

Mother of pearl is also called nacre and comes from some mollusks. This inner shell layer is what pearls are composed of and it is strong and iridescent. Just so you understand the difference though, pearls are layers and layers of nacre. Mother of pearl is the product before it becomes a pearl.

If you’ve had vacations to far off islands, you may have seen jewelry made of mother of pearl. It’s not just in Korea, but Koreans did create some stunning decoration with the shells.

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What Does Najeonchilgi Look Like?

It shimmers. It shines. When light catches it at the right angle, the surface becomes a rainbow. Mother of pearl lacquerware can be applied to almost anything: furniture and jewelry boxes are the most traditional forms, but also mirrors, combs, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, phone cases, and smaller decorative items.

The color shifts depending on the light and the angle. A jewelry box that looks predominantly green in one light can appear gold or purple in another. That quality, the way it changes as you move around it, is one of the things that makes it impossible to appreciate fully in photographs.

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Who Makes Mother of Pearl Lacquerware in Korea?

The craftsmen who create mother of pearl lacquerware products in Korea are known to have three things: amazing skill, an eye for detail, and great patience. If you go to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art you will learn that the process to make mother of pearl lacquerware requires more than 30 steps. It is not a short process by any means.

In the museum, they break it down and show you what each layer of the process looks like. After seeing that, I can’t tell you how much more I appreciated this Korean craft. It’s amazing what a piece of furniture goes through to get to what you see pictured here.

Because the process to make mother of pearl lacquerware products is so painstaking and requires so much time, it’s no wonder that there are less and less skilled craftsmen. The Korean government has been making great efforts to preserve this artisan work and has made the craftsmen intangible cultural assets that are essential.

Today, najeonchilgi master creators include Song Bang-woong, Sohn Dae-hyun, Jeung Myung-chae, Han Sang-soo, Kim Sun-kap, Lee Hyung-man, and Choi Jong-gwan among others.

Try it yourself

If you want to try making your own mother of pearl product while you’re in Korea, you can try your hand at this intricate detailed craft. Trazy offers a class with a 3rd generation master artisan whose handiwork has been featured in various Korean movies and dramas. You can join a class every day except Sundays at 11:00am or at 1:00pm. You can book your mother of pearl experience here.

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Where To Buy Korean Mother of Pearl Lacquerware

Korean mother of pearl lacquerware makes a great souvenir if you visit Korea, but just like the years of yore, it’s also a great gift for a friend or for yourself too and now, you can get it online easier than ever before.

Outside of Korea — Online

If you’re abroad, you might be thinking that you don’t have the best access to Korean mother-of-pearl BUT there are some places that are trying to spread the Korean handicraft love to the world so you have more options than you might think.

Amazon

You might be surprised to find out that Amazon actually has some pretty good Korean mother of pearl options. Of course, everything is on Amazon these days, isn’t it? When searching on Amazon, just make sure you check the seller and be sure it’s from Korea. There are some beautiful mother of pearl products from Egypt and other countries as well. If you want something from Korea though, read the descriptions carefully before you purchase.

Some great examples of what you can find on Amazon include this trinket box decorated with cranes by MADDesign (left) or a larger jewelry box from MADDesign with a beautiful peacock (right).

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In Seoul

Insadong: The Insadong district in Seoul is probably the easiest place to find najeonchilgi and it’s a popular area with a lot of souvenirs for tourists as it’s near popular spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. I got one of my favorite najeonchilgi keepsakes from Insadong. They tend to have everything from mirrors and accessories to jewelry boxes and more.

• Price range: ₩20,000 for smaller pieces to ₩1,000,000 and beyond for larger or more intricate items.

Dongmyo Market: This is not for the faint of heart. If you love to sift through pre-loved items and find the gems, then you should definitely check out Dongmyo Market. It’s item upon item and stack upon stack of everything you could want to find. There are vintage and antique goods as well as new things too. It’s a very overwhelming place, so again, I don’t recommend it unless you love the hunt. You can get real bargains here though.

• Price Range: Very budget friendly here and you can haggle.

Karrot Market (단근마켓): For residents and longer-stay visitors with a Korean phone number, Karrot Market is Korea’s most popular peer-to-peer selling app. Search “나전칠기” or “자개” and you’ll find what’s available near you, including larger furniture pieces that would be impossible to find in a tourist shop.

There’s a reason so much najeonchilgi furniture appears on Karrot Market: it’s heavy. My own mother-in-law gave away gorgeous najeonchilgi dressers that would be worth real money, simply because nobody wanted to move them. If you have the means to transport a larger piece, this is where to look. Just know what you’re taking on before you commit.

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Willing to Travel in Korea

Tongyeong, Korea: If you’re in Korea, willing to travel, and interested in Korea’s mother of pearl lacquerware, then you definitely need to visit Tongyeong, Korea. Best known for najeonchilgi, Tongyeong even holds a Najeon Chilgi Festival (during the Hansandae Festival) each August. This area on the southern coast of Korea is beautiful and you could enjoy an entire weekend down there just learning about about najeonchilgi and taking in the beachside views.

• Tongyeong Traditional Craft Hall: This is a good place to find the lacquerware that you so desire.
  • Address: 642 Beonji, Donam-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 통영시 도남동 642)
  • Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm

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FAQ

What is najeonchilgi?

Najeonchilgi (나전칠기) is Korean mother of pearl lacquerware, a traditional craft in which wood is lacquered and inlaid with pieces of mother of pearl shell in decorative patterns. The process requires more than 30 steps and significant skill. It is one of Korea’s oldest surviving traditional handicrafts, with roots going back over 1,000 years.

Is Korean mother of pearl lacquerware expensive?

It depends entirely on the size, complexity, and provenance of the piece. Small decorative items and accessories in Insadong start from around ₩20,000. Quality jewelry boxes range from ₩50,000 to ₩300,000. Larger furniture pieces from master craftsmen can reach into the millions of won. Because the craft is designated as an intangible cultural heritage and the number of skilled craftsmen is declining, authentic high-quality pieces have been increasing in value.

How do I know if a najeonchilgi piece is authentic?

For pieces bought in Korea, buying from established traditional craft shops in Insadong or from certified craft halls gives the best assurance. For online purchases, look for explicit Korean origin labeling and check seller information carefully. Mother of pearl lacquerware is also produced in Egypt, China, and other countries, sometimes marketed without clear origin disclosure.

What are good najeonchilgi souvenirs to buy?

Jewelry boxes are the classic choice and practical to transport. Smaller items like mirrors, combs, phone cases, and accessories travel well and cost less. If you have the budget and the luggage space, a jewelry box with a traditional motif like cranes, peacocks, and lotus flowers, makes a genuinely meaningful gift that most people will never have seen before.

Where is the best place to buy najeonchilgi in Seoul?

Insadong is the most accessible for tourists, centrally located, English-friendly, and with a wide range of pieces at various price points. Dongmyo Market has better prices if you’re willing to search. For larger pieces, Karrot Market (당근마켓) is worth checking if you have a Korean number and a plan to transport what you find.

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I have three pieces of my own and hope to add more over time. They’re beautiful in a way that photographs don’t do justice, you have to see the shimmer shift with the light in person to understand why this craft was gifted to kings. Don’t walk past it on your way through Insadong.

For more on gifts and souvenirs worth bringing home from Korea, the complete gift-giving guide covers some amazing modern and traditional gifts from Korea you don’t want to overlook.

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