Lid
Unknown Artist
5th–7th century
Medium
High-fired pottery (proto-porcelain)
Dimensions
Overall H. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Korea · Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C.–A.D. 676)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Paul Singer Gift and Rogers Fund, 1991
Accession Number
1991.479.19
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate lid, crafted in high-fired pottery known as proto-porcelain, hails from Korea's Three Kingdoms period ( B.C.–A.D. 676), a time of vibrant cultural exchange and technological innovation among the kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Standing just 4¼ inches tall, it likely served as a cover for a vessel used in daily life or ritual, reflecting the era's sophisticated craftsmanship. The Three Kingdoms were marked by artistic flourishing, with ceramics playing a key role in both utilitarian and ceremonial contexts. The medium—proto-porcelain—represents a remarkable achievement i...