Spoon thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Korea, Room 47g

Spoon

918-1392 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This spoon's curved handle and oval bowl typifies Koryo period (918-1392) bronzeware design. The handles on earlier Koryo spoons such as this are shorter and have a gentler curve than their mid-Koryo counterparts. It is therefore likely that this spoon dates to the 10th to 11th century. During the Koryo period bronze spoons were frequently used a burial objects, this being a custom which had been practiced from as early as the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - AD 668). Metal spoons and chopsticks are still used in Korea today for eating.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Spoon, bronze, Korea, Koryo dynasty (918-1392)
Physical description
The spoon has a shallow, pointed oval bowl and a thin curved handle ending in a spatula. The handle has moulded decoration near the end.
Dimensions
  • Length: 26cm
Style
Summary
This spoon's curved handle and oval bowl typifies Koryo period (918-1392) bronzeware design. The handles on earlier Koryo spoons such as this are shorter and have a gentler curve than their mid-Koryo counterparts. It is therefore likely that this spoon dates to the 10th to 11th century. During the Koryo period bronze spoons were frequently used a burial objects, this being a custom which had been practiced from as early as the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - AD 668). Metal spoons and chopsticks are still used in Korea today for eating.
Bibliographic reference
Beth McKillop.Korean Art and Design.London: V&A,1992.48.
Collection
Accession number
M.314-1921

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2000
Record URL
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