Fabric
Mother-of-pearl inlay set in metal. Silk-thread knot. Hand-tied tassel.
Accessory · Made to order
The Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly Norigae.
$95 to $175 · quoted in consultation
A single mother-of-pearl butterfly hung from a silk cord, with a hand-tied tassel below. Smaller than the double-butterfly shape, lighter on the chest. The mother-of-pearl catches directional light and lets the rest of the outfit hold.
One butterfly. Light.
Occasion
Daywear hanbok at a quieter family table. A senior portrait that asks for one ornament at the chest. The detail that does not compete with the dress and steps back after the first look.
The story
Norigae is the ornament tied at the goreum, an old form that carried symbols, scent, sometimes a small charm against bad luck. A married woman wore one, an unmarried woman wore one. The piece announced its wearer before the wearer spoke. The butterfly motif read for joy, for a marriage that holds, for the pair that does not separate.
Mother-of-pearl set in fine metal, hung from a silk cord with a hand-tied tassel below. The inlay catches directional light without flashing. The cord is finer than the larger butterfly shapes, the tassel is shorter. The whole piece is sized to register at the chest without pulling the line of the jeogori off its center.
Worn on the daywear hanbok that does not need a ceremony to justify itself. A senior portrait where the elder asks for one ornament and the photographer asks for room around the face. The butterfly lands at the chest, then steps back. A piece a daughter borrows on the way out the door.
Hand-finished in Seoul. Inspected and fitted in San Mateo.
Inquire about TKIM-D-055 →
Replies usually within one business day, by email or text to (707) 718-3579.
