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Bridal panel

Bridal panel

  • Place of origin:

    Korea (made)

  • Date:

    1850-1900 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Coloured silks and gold paper thread on silk

  • Museum number:

    T.200-1920

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

A number of objects in the Victoria and Albert Museum relate to Korean marriage customs in the 19th century. Although now detached, this panel would have originally formed part of the sumptuously embroidered over-robe worn by a bride in the final act of marriage: her entry into her husband’s family home and formal introduction to her new relatives.

Such panels were embroidered by the bride and her female relatives in the months before this important ritual took place. They were decorated with auspicious motifs, as in this example, with its design of cranes, small birds, butterflies, lotuses, peonies and a potted peach tree, signifying, among other things, wishes for longevity and marital bliss for the newly married couple.

Physical description

Symmetrical design of two cranes amongst rocks, waves and lotus flowers, with peony flowers, three butterflies, a flowering peach tree and two birds with outstretched wings on red background framed with blue. The embroidered inscription on the top left reads "May the union of the two families be the source of ten thousand blessings".

Colour: Multi-coloured

Place of Origin

Korea (made)

Date

1850-1900 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Coloured silks and gold paper thread on silk

Dimensions

Height: 123.5 cm, Width: 51 cm

Descriptive line

Tex, Korea, embroidery; Panel from a wedding garment, embroidered silk, with a symmetrical design of cranes, small birds in flight, butterflies, lotus and peony flowers and a potted fruiting peach tree. Korean, Choson dynasty, 1750-1850.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Liz Wilkinson.
Birds, Bats & Butterflies in Korean Art.
London: Sun Tree Publishing, Singapore,
1996.
pp.94-95.

Materials

Silk; Gold paper

Techniques

Hand embroidery; Couching

Categories

Textiles; Embroidery; Women's clothes

Collection

East Asia Collection

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