Belt ornament (part of a group of ten: F1916.428-429, 726-730, 740, 743-744)
12th-14th century
Classification
Jewelry and Ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1916.744
Tags
About this artwork
To 1916
Art Historical Context
This exquisite belt ornament, dating to the 12th-14th during Korea's Goryeo period (918-1392), exemplifies the refined metalwork of a golden age in Korean artistry. Part of a rare group of ten such pieces (F1916.428-429, 726-730, 740, 743-744), it would have adorned the belts of nobility, signaling wealth and status in a society shaped by Buddhism, Confucian ideals, and maritime trade. The Goryeo dynasty, known for its celadon ceramics and Buddhist treasures, produced such ornaments amid a flourishing aristocracy, where personal adornments blended elegance with spiritual symbolism. Crafted in...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...