The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 2, 2023

Belt Ornament

918–1392

Part of a set. See all set records

Korea, Goryeo period

(918-1392)

Bronze gilt

Overall: 4 x 4.6 x 0.7 cm (1 9/16 x 1 13/16 x 1/4 in.)

Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1917.1051.1

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

The Japanese antique dealer Yamanaka & Company, which opened its branches in New York (1895) and Boston (1899) sold small Korean archaeological materials such as this belt ornament to American collectors in the early 20th century.

Description

Metallurgy advanced remarkably in the Goryeo period (918-1392), explaining why a large quantity of sophisticated metal artifacts with delicate designs were used not only as daily accessories but also as burial goods. Belt ornaments like this example were fixed to leather belts.

Citations
Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
Kim, Jae-yul. "Review on Burial Aspect of Belt Ornaments excavated from Tombs in Gyeongju during the Epoch of the Three Kingdoms [삼국시대 경주지역 고분 출토 대금구의 부장양상 검토]." Sillasahakpo 32 (December 2014): 263-305. www.dbpia.co.kr
Kim, Kyuho. “Samgukshidae kobun ch'ult'o kŭm, ŭn, kŭmdong chep'umŭi t'ŭksŏng koch'al [삼국시대고분출토금, 은, 금동제품의특성고찰].” Samguk sidae kukka ŭi sŏngjang kwa mulchil munhwa [삼국시대국가의성장과물질문화]. Sŏngnam: Han'gukhak Chungang Yŏn'guwŏn Ch'ulp'anbu, 2015: 234-247.
Bronze in Life and Art [삶과 예술 속. 청동 靑銅 이야기] National Cheongju Museum (2016).
Goryeo: The Glory of Korea [대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1917.1051.1