Rank Badge (Hyungbae)
1800-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Embroidered with silk thread to show a pair of cranes amidst clouds, this is badge for a member of Korea's court officialdom. As a mark of status, government ministers wore two embroidered badges, on the chest and back of their robes. A design of two cranes indicated a high ranking civil official. Military officials wore badges depicting one or two leopards.
Before embroidering, the badge was lined with paper. Padding of paper and silk was used to give a raised effect in the waves and in the feathers of the cranes. The plant in the cranes' beaks is the plant of eternal life, and refers to wishes for the longevity of the wearer.
Before embroidering, the badge was lined with paper. Padding of paper and silk was used to give a raised effect in the waves and in the feathers of the cranes. The plant in the cranes' beaks is the plant of eternal life, and refers to wishes for the longevity of the wearer.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered Silk |
| Brief description | Tex, Korea, embroidery; Embroidered silk with a design of a pair of cranes holding the plant of eternal youth flying amongst clouds above rocks and water. Korean, Choson dynasty, 1800-1880. |
| Physical description | Badge decorated in silk threads with two cranes holding the plant of eternal youth amongst stylized clouds, rocks and surging waves. Made for an official of 1st-3rd Rank. Colour: Multi-coloured |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Thomas Watters Esq. |
| Object history | Given by Mr. Thomas Watters, accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | Embroidered with silk thread to show a pair of cranes amidst clouds, this is badge for a member of Korea's court officialdom. As a mark of status, government ministers wore two embroidered badges, on the chest and back of their robes. A design of two cranes indicated a high ranking civil official. Military officials wore badges depicting one or two leopards. Before embroidering, the badge was lined with paper. Padding of paper and silk was used to give a raised effect in the waves and in the feathers of the cranes. The plant in the cranes' beaks is the plant of eternal life, and refers to wishes for the longevity of the wearer. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1848A-1888 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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