“The Brooklyn Museum is pleased to unveil Arts of Korea, a celebration of the Museum’s historic Korean collection and a preview of the future Arts of Asia and the Middle East galleries. The renovated Arts of Korea gallery is triple its original size and will display more than three times the amount of artworks and objects, many of which will be on view for the first time or after multiple decades in storage.
A pioneer in the collection and display of Korean art, the Brooklyn Museum has amassed one of the country’s premier Korean collections and was one of the first museums in the United States to establish a permanent Korean art gallery. Arts of Korea presents 80 works of art, including a stunning selection of ceramics—from early stoneware funerary vessels and inlaid celadons to later wares with freely painted underglaze decoration—and rare examples of metalwork, furniture, painting, jewelry, and costume.” — Brooklyn Museum
“The Brooklyn Museum was one of the first to acknowledge the importance of Korean art,” said Joan Cummins, the Museum’s Lisa and Bernard Selz Senior Curator of Asian Art . “Stewart Culin, our first Curator of Ethnology, traveled to Seoul in 1913, and this early commitment to Korean art attracted great gifts over the years. With this larger gallery, we’re excited to showcase the depth and breadth of the collection.”
Bride’s Robe (Hwalot). Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century. Cotton, silk, paper, gold thread, 71 x 6 x 48 in. (180.3 x 15.2 x 121.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum Collection, 27.977.4. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Belt Hook in the Shape of a Horse. Lelang Korea, Proto-Three Kingdoms or Three Kingdoms period, circa 3rd century. Bronze, 2 ⅜ x 3 ⅝ x ¾ in. (6.0 x 9.2 x 1.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim, 69.125.11. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Pedestal Bowl with Lid. Korea,Silla kingdom, Korea, Three Kingdoms period,5th century. Stoneware, 7 ⅞ x 5 ½ x 5 ½ in. (20 x 14 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Sir George Sanson, 40.519a-b. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Pair of Earrings. Korea,Unified Silla period, 6th century.. Gold, 3 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (9.4 x 3.5 cm), each. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.3a-b. (Photo: Sarah DeSantis, Brooklyn Museum)
Ewer in the Shape of a Lotus Bud. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, first half 12th century. Carved stoneware with slip decoration under celadon glaze, 9 ⅞ x 9 ½ x 5 ½ in. (25.1 x 24.1 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Darwin R. James III, 56.138.1a-b. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gourd-Shaped Ewer. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century. Carved stoneware with celadon glaze, 11 ¾ x 8 ⅞ x 7 in. (30 x 22.5 x 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 57.141. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Ewer with Hinged Lid. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 12th-13th century. Bronze, 10 ¼ x 9 ¼ x 8 3/8 in. (26 x 23.5 x 22.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 74.163.3. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Cup with Scalloped Rim. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, first half of the 13th century. Stoneware with inlaid slip decoration under celadon glaze, 2 ⅞ x 3 ⅜ x 3 3/8 in. (7.2 x 8.7 x 8.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Peggy N. and Roger G. Gerry Collection, 2004.28.45. Brooklyn Museum photograph (in collaboration with National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Daejon, Korea)
Finial in the Shape of a Dragon Head. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 14th century. Gold, 1 ⅝ x ½ x ¼ in. (4.2 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchase gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Martin, 84.36. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Bottle with Peony Decoration. Korea, Joseon dynasty, mid- to late 15th century. Stoneware with slip decoration under celadon glaze, 8 ⅝ x 7 x 6 in. (22 x 17.8 x 15.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Ella C. Woodward Memorial Fund, 75.61. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Spirit Shrine. Korea. Joseon dynasty, 1811. Ink and color on paper, 67 ⅜ x 56 5/8 in. (171 x 143.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 86.25. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Jar with Dragon Decoration. Korea, Joseon dynasty, mid-17th century. Porcelain with painted decoration under clear glaze, 12 ⅝ x 14 ⅝ x 14 ⅝ in. (32.2 x 37 x 37 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council, 86.139. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Pair of Boy Attendants. Korea, Joseon dynasty, 18th century with later coats of paint. Polychromed wood, 83.174.1: 19 ⅞ x 9 ½ x 8 ½ in. (50.5 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm); 83.174.2: 19 ¾ x 9 ½ x 8 ½ in. (50 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum; Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley L. Wallace, 83.174.1-.2. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Water Dropper in the Shape of a Peach. Korea; Joseon dynasty, second half of the 18th century. Porcelain with cobalt and copper decoration under clear glaze, 4 ⅜ x 3 ¾ x 3 ⅞ in. (11.1 x 9.5 x 9.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert S. Anderson, 1993.185.3. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Palanquin for Funerary Processions. Korea; Joseon dynasty, 19th century. Wood, metal, paper, cloth, 34 ½ x 20 ½ x 25 ¼ in. (87.6 x 52.1 x 64.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 85.224. (Photo: Sarah DeSantis, Brooklyn Museum)
Lidded Jar with Vine Decoration. Korea; Joseon dynasty, second half of the 19th century. Porcelain with cobalt decoration under clear glaze, 7 ⅞ x 9 x 9 in. (20 x 22.9 x 22.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum; Gift of Bernice and Robert Dickes, 78.247.1a-b. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Box. Korea; Joseon dynasty, late 19th-early 20th century. Wood, brass fittings, back-painted oxhorn panels, 4 ⅞ x 16 ½ x 4 ⅜ in. (12.5 x 42 x 11.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. John P. Lyden, 1995.184.1. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado, Brooklyn Museum)
Mandarin Duck Cabinet. Korea; Joseon dynasty, early 20th century. Lacquered wood, brass fittings, 63 ⅛ x 44 ¾ x 22 ¼ in. (160.3 x 113.7 x 56.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, George C. Brackett Fund, 34.530. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Arts of Korea is organized by Joan Cummins, Lisa and Bernard Selz Senior Curator of Asian Art, and Susan L. Beningson, Assistant Curator of Asian Art.
Images courtesy Brooklyn Museum.