Bridal Robe (Hwarot)

1700s

Korea, Joseon dynasty

(1392–1910)

Medium

Satin weave silk; silk embroidery; paper edging on neck and sleeves

Measurements

Overall: 118.1 x 179.7 cm (46 1/2 x 70 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

The Worcester R. Warner Collection 1918.550

You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

This bride's robe was not made for one specific bride, but rather was shared and passed down to many brides.

Description

This bride's robe is exquisitely embroidered with various symbols of happiness in colorful silk threads. Butterflies stand for marital happiness; the phoenix, numerous offspring; and lotus flowers and white cranes, longevity. Yet, the bridal robe does not attest to the life of luxury. To the contrary, many traces of repairs, trimmings, and patchwork reflect Joseon period women’s commitment to value neo-Confucian aesthetics of frugality and modesty.

Substantial repairs and patching reveal that this robe served as an important communal resource to be shared and passed down through several generations. Its collar and sleeves are covered in thick white paper; this paper is replaced with new paper for each bride, while the robe itself was reused for decades.