Spoon with Fish-Tail Design
Unknown Artist
918–1392
Medium
silver bronze
Dimensions
l. 28.7 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
General Income Fund
Accession Number
1917.351
About this artwork
Many of Goryeo period spoons like this one feature a curved handle that splits into a jagged fishtail design. This fishtail design is not unique to Korea; it was also widely used in the area under the rule of two non-Han Chinese states: Liao (907–1125) and Jin (1115–1234). These seemingly ordinary objects testify to exciting material interactions between the Goryeo dynasty and non-Han Chinese northern states, which were often omitted from the official records.