The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 8, 2026

A scalloped, shallow lacquer tray sits on a low, lobed base. Swirling vines and leaves inlaid with iridescent abalone shell cover the interior, glinting with pink and green against the dark surface. Along the raised rim, a repeating geometric pattern of overlapping circles forms a shimmering grid. From our viewpoint, the petal-shaped vessel radiates color across the black and deep red lacquer, following the curves of its ornate, lobed form.

Foliate-Shaped Tray with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

late 1400s–early 1500s

Korea, Joseon dynasty

(1392–1910)
Inlaid abalone shells on black lacquer ground, applied with red lacquer on the interior
width: 44.1 cm (17 3/8 in.)
Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund 2026.3
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This tray’s intricately decorated surface was created through a labor-intensive inlay technique employing thin, precisely cut abalone shell.

Description

Since the Goryeo dynasty, Korean mother-of-pearl lacquerware has been admired for its refinement, though few early examples survive. This tray, datable to the late 1400s or early 1500s, is exceptional for both rarity and condition. Its foliate form, peony vine motif, and intricate lattice border—originally derived from Goryeo-period decorative arts—are exquisitely reinterpreted through the refined craftsmanship of early Joseon artisans.
  • ?–2022
    Private Collection, Japan
    March 22, 2022
    (Christie's, New York, NY, March 22, 2022 sale, Japanese and Korean Art Including the Collection of David and Nayda Utterberg, Lot no. 275)
    2022–2025
    Private Collection, Seoul, South Korea, consigned to MyArt Auction
    2025–2026
    (MyArt Auction, Seoul, South Korea, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2026–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Hwang, Chi-hyŏn 황 지현 and Sadamu Kawada 河 田貞. Korean Lacquerware Inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl: The Everlasting Beauty. First edition. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2010.
    Korean Lacquer Art: Aesthetic Perfection. Münster, Munich: Museum für Lackkunst; Hirmer Verlag, 2012.
    You, Hong June 유홍준. Korean Art History for Everyone. Seoul: Nulwa, 2025.
  • {{cite web|title=Foliate-Shaped Tray with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay|url=false|author=|year=late 1400s–early 1500s|access-date=08 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2026.3