1700s
Silk and paper with silk embroidered
Overall: 116.9 x 177.8 cm (46 x 70 in.)
The Worcester R. Warner Collection 1918.550
This gown was not made for one specific bride, but rather was be shared and passed down to many brides.
This wedding gown 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 gown 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 aesthetics of frugality and modesty.
Substantial repairs and patching reveal that this gown served as an important communal resource to be shared and passed down through several generations. Only its collar and sleeves, which are made of thick paper, are replaced with new ones, while the robe was reused for decades.
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