Korean. Pair of Earrings, 6th century C.E. Gold, probably over a lacquer core, Length of each earring: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2013.3a-b_PS9.jpg)
Korean. Pair of Earrings, 6th century C.E. Gold, probably over a lacquer core, Length of each earring: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2013.3a-b_detail1_PS9.jpg)
Korean. Pair of Earrings, 6th century C.E. Gold, probably over a lacquer core, Length of each earring: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2013.3a-b_detail2_PS9.jpg)
Pair of Earrings
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor
About this Brooklyn Icon
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
These dazzling earrings were made in the sixth century C.E. within the domains of Korea’s Silla kingdom. They are among the largest and most elaborate surviving examples from this time.
Aristocrats of the period were buried wearing suites of gold jewelry, including necklaces, belts, and bracelets. We assume that they wore something similar while they were alive, at least on special occasions. The earrings’ basic shape is typical of the era, with a thick loop at the top and pendant elements in the shape of leaves. They are less heavy than they appear, with only a thin layer of gold covering a lightweight core, possibly made of resin.
The earrings are decorated with tiny balls of gold that were fused to the surface to form patterns. In English, this technique is called granulation. Goldsmiths in the Middle East developed granulation, and then cultures around the Mediterranean learned the technique. Gradually, it was transported via the Silk Roads across northern Asia, arriving in Korea by the fifth century C.E.
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Gallery Label
Royal tombs near the Silla capital city, Gyeongju, in southeast Korea, have yielded sophisticated gold adornments including crowns and earrings. Elaborate pendants like these were either worm as earrings or suspended from the sides of royal crowns to mimic earrings Granulation, or decoration with small Individual gold beads, is applied to the sheathing of the earrings upper segment and used to cutline the Individual leaf shape of the gold spangles and lower leaves. The technique is thought to have developed in Mesopotamia around the eighteenth century B.C.E. and then spread to the Persian, Greek, and Roman empires, eventually traveling across the great Central Asia trade routes to China and the rest of East Asia. Its diffusion demonstrates the importance of Silk Road trade to East Asian material culture.
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
These dazzling earrings were made in the sixth century C.E. within the domains of Korea’s Silla kingdom. They are among the largest and most elaborate surviving examples from this time.
Aristocrats of the period were buried wearing suites of gold jewelry, including necklaces, belts, and bracelets. We assume that they wore something similar while they were alive, at least on special occasions. The earrings’ basic shape is typical of the era, with a thick loop at the top and pendant elements in the shape of leaves. They are less heavy than they appear, with only a thin layer of gold covering a lightweight core, possibly made of resin.
The earrings are decorated with tiny balls of gold that were fused to the surface to form patterns. In English, this technique is called granulation. Goldsmiths in the Middle East developed granulation, and then cultures around the Mediterranean learned the technique. Gradually, it was transported via the Silk Roads across northern Asia, arriving in Korea by the fifth century C.E.
.***
Gallery Label
Royal tombs near the Silla capital city, Gyeongju, in southeast Korea, have yielded sophisticated gold adornments including crowns and earrings. Elaborate pendants like these were either worm as earrings or suspended from the sides of royal crowns to mimic earrings Granulation, or decoration with small Individual gold beads, is applied to the sheathing of the earrings upper segment and used to cutline the Individual leaf shape of the gold spangles and lower leaves. The technique is thought to have developed in Mesopotamia around the eighteenth century B.C.E. and then spread to the Persian, Greek, and Roman empires, eventually traveling across the great Central Asia trade routes to China and the rest of East Asia. Its diffusion demonstrates the importance of Silk Road trade to East Asian material culture.
CULTURE
Korean
MEDIUM
Gold, probably over a lacquer core
DATES
6th century C.E.
PERIOD
Three Kingdoms period, Silla kingdom
DIMENSIONS
Length of each earring: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
2013.3a-b
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Korean. Pair of Earrings, 6th century C.E. Gold, probably over a lacquer core, Length of each earring: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Theodora Wilbour and Jane Van Vleck, by exchange and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2013.3a-b_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 2013.3a-b_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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