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Source Description
This low table showcases intricate mother-of-pearl and twisted brass-wire inlay forming chrysanthemum scrolls and floral lattices against black lacquer. As one of the few surviving early Joseon lacquer works employing the rare brass-wire technique, it reflects refined craftsmanship made for elite patrons. Likely used in Buddhist offering ceremonies, it would have supported precious ritual objects such as rolls of sutras or miniature Buddhist statuary.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
703504
label
Hexafoil-Shaped Table with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
703504
contentType
object
title
Hexafoil-Shaped Table with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
description
This low table showcases intricate mother-of-pearl and twisted brass-wire inlay forming chrysanthemum scrolls and floral lattices against black lacquer. As one of the few surviving early Joseon lacquer works employing the rare brass-wire technique, it reflects refined craftsmanship made for elite patrons. Likely used in Buddhist offering ceremonies, it would have supported precious ritual objects such as rolls of sutras or miniature Buddhist statuary.
date
late 1400s–early 1500s
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Lacquer
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
42.5 x 26.4 x 20.6 cm (16 3/4 x 10 3/8 x 8 1/8 in.)
cul
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
accession
2026.4
Source extras
tec
Inlaid abalone shells on black lacquer ground, applied with red lacquer on the interior
tombstone
Hexafoil-Shaped Table with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, late 1400s–early 1500s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Inlaid abalone shells on black lacquer ground, applied with red lacquer on the interior; 42.5 x 26.4 x 20.6 cm (16 3/4 x 10 3/8 x 8 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund, 2026.4
collection
Korean Art
didYouKnow
The use of inlaid twisted brass wires in this mother-of-pearl lacquer table was first introduced in the twelfth century and is believed to have been employed in high-quality lacquerware through the end of the fifteenth century.
citations
citation
Hwang, Chi-hyŏn 황 지현 and Sadamu Kawada 河 田貞. <em>Korean Lacquerware Inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl: The Everlasting Beauty</em>. First edition. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2010.
citation
<em>Korean Lacquer Art: Aesthetic Perfection</em>. Münster, Munich: Museum für Lackkunst; Hirmer Verlag, 2012.
creditline
Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-18 15:03:06.994000
sourceId
703504
dept
Korean Art
coll
Korean Art
med
Inlaid abalone shells on black lacquer ground, applied with red lacquer on the interior
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
c02852f531d32461