• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.122-141
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• 2016

It is known that Sung-gyu Jeon and several other Korean artisans were invited to "Joseon-Najeon Company" of Kimura Tenko in Takaoka, Japan to teach the skills of making lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, however these artisans discovered a new tool called fretsaw during the visit, which can easily cut nacre. The introduction of fretsaw in the 1920s in Korea innovated the Jureumjil(filing) technique and dramatically changed the style of modern Korean lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In this paper, I will focus on the case of Sung-gyu Jeon, Kimura Tenko and "Joseon-Najeon Company". I will also examine why and how the Korean lacquerware artisans went to "Joseon-Najeon Company" in Takaoka and exactly what they did there. This analysis will help in discovering how the Korean artisans' experience in Takaoka affected their works after they came back to Korea.