A GILT-BRONZE ROYAL SEAL WITH LION (HAETAE) HANDLE

Princess Deokun was the third daughter of the twenty-third Joseon king, Sunjo (1790–1834; r. 1800–34), and his queen, Sunwon (1789–1857). The lion, wearing the characteristic bell around his neck, is a benevolent creature in Korean culture that protects against natural disasters and ensures the rule of law. The lion, or haetae, appears as an architectural element seated, as here, on a rectangular or square plinth.
Other personal objects of Princess Deokon are published in Jeoseon majimak Konju Togon Ka ui yumul / Exhibition of Costume Relics of the Last Princess Deokon and Her Royal Family from the Joseon Dynasty, exhibition catalogue (Kyonggi-do Yongin-si: Tan’guk Taehakkyo Ch’ulp’anbu, 2012).