Shopofkorea guides
Beautiful Bell Tones Made by a National Intangible Heritage Juchieljang (Iron Casting Master)
Official product names are shown in Korean. Product pages are in Korean; prices are in South Korean won (KRW).
Korean bells are not artifacts meant only to be seen. They are cultural heritage through which one encounters the technology and aesthetic sensibility of an era by examining the form and patterns of the metal and listening to its resonance. The 'Emille Bell – Cheongwol' is a decorative bell that brings that story into today's living spaces.
A Name That Needs to Be Corrected First
The motif of this work is the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong (Divine Bell of King Seongdeok), not the Seondeok Daewang Sinjong. According to the National Heritage Portal, the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong is a National Treasure made in the 7th year of King Hyegong of Unified Silla, 771, and is currently managed by the Gyeongju National Museum. It is also widely known by the name Emille Bell, but its official cultural heritage designation is Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong.
There is also another change in terminology. The current official name for what was previously called 'National Intangible Cultural Heritage' is now 'National Intangible Heritage.' The National Heritage Portal classifies juchieljang (주철장; the traditional casting technique for making bells) as a National Intangible Heritage.
A Silla Bell Held Within a Crescent Moon
According to the product description from Shop of Korea, the 'Emille Bell – Cheongwol' combines a bronze bell, jagae (자개; mother-of-pearl), and wood. The bell is placed within a crescent-shaped curve; the body of the bell features a relief carving of a bicheon (비천상; a flying celestial figure), and a lotus pattern is added to the striking point of the bell. Rather than claiming it is an exact replica of the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong, it is more accurate to regard it as a work that interprets the bell's representative formal elements as contemporary decorative craft.
The combined dimensions of the bell and its stand are listed as 27cm wide, 10cm deep, and 33cm tall. It is closer to a display piece with a notable presence than a small desk ornament, so it is advisable to decide on a placement — such as a study or reception room — before purchasing. If you plan to carry it abroad in person, you should also check the packaged weight and packaging conditions shown on the product page.
A Gift That Tells a Story for the Right Recipient
It suits foreign guests with an interest in ancient Korean art, those looking for a symbolic craft piece to place in a study or reception room, and those preparing a gift that allows them to explain Korean metalcraft in words. When presenting it, one sentence works better than a long legend.
"This is a bell that renders the form of the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong — made in Unified Silla in 771 — as contemporary craft."
That single sentence conveys the name, the era, and the meaning of the gift together. Writing that introduces a beautiful bell tone begins not with mysterious figures, but with stating precisely what it was modeled after and who continues which craft tradition.