The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Box and Cover

Box and Cover

918–1392
Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.); Overall: 1.2 cm (1/2 in.)
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

This ceramic container was used to store either incense or cosmetics.

Description

Celadons, spoons, seals, and bronze mirrors were the most common burial objects in tombs during the Goryeo period (918-1392). Once used to contain color powder, rouge and eyebrow gel for makeup, this small container was one of the standard goods that furnished elites' tombs. Goryeo-period women and men used the grain powder of rice or millet for whitening their skin, safflower extract for rouge, and plant ash or soot for eyebrow gel. Yet, natural-looking make-up seems to have been the most favorable one in Korea according to the travelogue by Xu Jing (1091-1153), the Chinese diplomat who visited Korea in 1123.
  • {{cite web|title=Box and Cover|url=false|author=|year=918–1392|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.424.a