Editor’s Note
This article highlights the first public unveiling of a restored Joseon royal craftwork, “Banhwa,” revived after 140 years with support from Sulwhasoo. The piece is featured in a special exhibition marking 140 years of Korea-France friendship.
A premium Joseon royal craftwork, ‘Banhwa’ (盤花), revived after 140 years with the support of Amorepacific’s global luxury beauty brand Sulwhasoo, is finally being revealed to domestic consumers.
Sulwhasoo announced on the 2nd that it will showcase the restored ‘Banhwa’, a royal bonsai craftwork from the Joseon Dynasty, to the public for the first time through the special exhibition ‘Gifts and Records: 140 Years of Korea-France Friendship’, which opens on the 3rd to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. The restoration was carried out in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service and the National Palace Museum of Korea.
‘Banhwa’, meaning ‘flowers on a plate’, is an ornate and exquisite indoor decorative bonsai craftwork from the Joseon royal court, combining metal, gemstones, and wood.
This artifact was a diplomatic gift sent by Emperor Gojong to French President Sadi Carnot in 1886 as a token of gratitude upon the signing of the Korea-France Treaty of Amity and Commerce.
The original, which is also Korea’s first official diplomatic gift to France, is currently housed in the Musée national des arts asiatiques – Guimet in France, making it inaccessible to domestic consumers.
Due to the intricate intertwining of gemstones and metal, the piece is extremely difficult to transport, prompting Sulwhasoo to provide full support for a domestic restoration project.
Sulwhasoo has been fully sponsoring the Banhwa restoration project since signing a cultural heritage preservation agreement with the Korea Heritage Service in 2024. The restoration was personally undertaken by Kim Young-hee, a holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage ‘Okjang’ (Jade Craftsmanship), who meticulously recreated it using traditional Joseon-era techniques.
The restored Banhwa will be donated and displayed at the National Palace Museum of Korea and the Deoksugung Palace Management Office.