Lid

Unknown Artist

5th–7th century

Lid by Unknown Artist

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

AnimalsMen

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...

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