During the more than 50 years I lived in the Orient I owned an antique store and also had a large personalcollection of antiques.I was a member of the Okinawa Antique Dealers and Collectors Association through which I acquired many of my pieces.

Of themany items I am selling now, those I acquired through the association will carry with themour original 60 day guarantee of authenticity.This itemcomes with that Certificate of Origin, pictured below.

Tteoksalis a patterned Korean rice cake stamp

Various forms of "tteok", rice cakes made of glutinous rice flour, are common in Korean cuisine, even today. Tteok are included in everyday meals, but are also ubiquitous at holidays and special ceremonies. Women of the Joseon period, Joseon (Choson or Yi) Dynasty, 1392–1910,used molds like these—usually wooden, as seen here, although occasionally porcelain—to decorate rice cakes. Incised with motifs ranging from Chinese characters to flowers to geometric patterns, the molds pressed the designs into the "tteok". Such kitchen tools demonstrate the elegance of traditional Korean dining.

The "tteoksal"offered in this sale, shown on the right,was probably carved by a Korean farmer during a winter in the 18th century. You can appreciate the workmanship when you realizeit was carved out of a piece of wood with a simple knife without the benefit of modern measuring tools.

The three images below show you an age crack that appears on theback of the"tteoksal"and on one end. It does not appear on the face. The face shows very minor wear from centuries of use.

The Korean winters are cold, affording the farmers and their families many hours of spare time when there are no useful chores that can be done in the fields. This picture of thatch roofed farm houses in the snow helps to understand why the Korean farmers and their familiesdeveloped so many beautiful handicrafts. They did weaving, embroidery, ceramics, and of course wood carving.The iconic Korean wood carving is the"tteoksal",rice cake press.

Visualize the farmer sitting through the long winter whittling a"tteoksal"for his wife to use.

The picture to the left shows how the rice press (Tteoksal 떡살) isused to press its design on the green colored rice cake (Jeolpyeon (절편))below it. Please notice that the one in the picture to the left is not the one for sale, it is simply an illustration. The one for sale is the one above, a finely carved example.

Here are images of some more sample rice cakes made with"tteoksal".

This rice cake press comes with this Certificate of Origin from the Okinwa Antique Dealers and Collectors Association.

Now, back in the United States, and my being heading toward 90 years old it is time for me to give up my personal collection, a piece at a time. I offer a 100% money back guarantee on this antique for any reason at all. Simply returnit undamaged within 30 daysand you will receive a fullrefund. Sometimes even experts disagree on the exact age of a piece. That is why I offer a refund simply because you request it.Many of my treasures I have personally owned for more than 50 years and many I acquired from families who had passed the items down through the generations. Because antiques sometimes requirecareful packing, the customer is responsible for safereturn shipping of any item returned for a refund.

The "tteoksal"offered in this sale, shown on the right,was probably carved by a Korean farmer during a winter in the 18th century. You can appreciate the workmanship when you realizeit was carved out of a piece of wood with a simple knife without the benefit of modern measuring tools.

The picture to the left shows how the rice press (Tteoksal 떡살) isused to press its design on the green colored rice cake (Jeolpyeon (절편))below it. Please notice that the one in the picture to the left is not the one for sale, it is simply an illustration. The one for sale is the one above, a finely carved example.

Here are images of some sample rice cakes madewith"tteoksal".

This rice cake press comes with this Certificate of Origin from the Okinwa Antique Dealers and Collectors Association.