Metal Crafts

Bronze Lamp Stand
Joseon dynasty
Hight 22cm

Lamp stands were mainly made of wood; metal ones are rare, so this is presumed to have been produced in the late period.

Bronze Weight
Joseon dynasty
Height 4cm

This balance weight is rectangle. On the back of the body are engraved the Chinese characters 前四兩 工曹; the front records the weigh: 中一斤 後三斤. The lower part of the body is narrowed in the middle, with two to three layers of support. It is presumed to have been made during the Joseon period.

Bronze Dipper
Joseon dynasty
Length 26cm

The tip of the handle was decorated in the shape of a dragon head, which was readily found in women＇s hairpins. At the mouth of the dragon is a small hole so that it can be hung. It is presumed to have been produced during the  Joseon period.

Gilt Bronze Buddha Statue
The Age of Unified Silla, 9th Century
Hight 8.5cm

With one finger, the feet, and the gilding missing, this statue is incomplete. However, it is characteristic of Buddha figures made during the Unified Shilla Kingdom. The head rises into a high crown but no hair is visible. With the right hand beside the chest, and with left hand holding the big medicine case, this is the Buddha of medicine, presumed to have been made in the late Unified Shilla Kingdom.

Bronze Bells
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 2.7~ 7cm

This assorted bells vary in size. Each comprises two hemispheres, and there are  traces of small rings on the upper and lower parts. Most of them are presumed to belong to the Goryeo Kingdom or Joseon period.

Bronze Buddha Statue with Round Decoration
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 3cm

This bronze is round with various relief decorations. The avalokitesvara shows two hands clasped, and six thick arms stretching from the both sides of the head, chest and legs. On the upper part is a round ring, the use of which is uncertain. It is presumed that this is an artifact of Esoteric Buddhism, and is estimated to have been produced in the late Goryeo Kingdom.

Bronze Shoes
Goryeo dynasty
Length 21.5cm

With simple but elegant shapes, the shoes show a little difference from those of the leather shoes made in the Joseon period. With the weighty characteristic of bronze, these shoes are presumed to have been for a funeral or the burial rather than for daily use. Especially, the decorations on the upper part seem to represent the shapes of leather shoes. Not found in great quantity, these shoes are considered to be a rare product of the Goryeo Kingdom.

Bronze Incense Burner
Joseon dynasty
Left Height 21.7cm / Width 14cm 
Right Height 21.7cm / Width 12.3cm

Bronze incense burners had already been made during the Han period of China even before Buddhism was introduced to Korea. The manufacturing and use of the Korean incense burners became active with the introduction of Buddhism, though. During the Goryeo Kingdom, elephant-shaped celadon burners and high-cup shaped burners with saucers were the most popular.
Compared with lion-shaped burners of the Joseon period, these burners look prominent with balanced shape and detailed decorations. The refined e-x-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-ns of the cranes indicates production in the 16th or 17th centuries. 

Bronze Mirror with Crane and Cloud Designs
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 13.5cm

Round in shape, the mirror provides simplicity with only two the cranes and clouds. This type of mirror is not common; the crane pattern is quite similar to that of the celadon of the Goryeo Kingdom. This is considered to be unique to the Goryeo Kingdom since4 no comparable example can be found in China.

Bronze Mirror with Animal Designs
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 9.8cm

Made during the Goryeo Kingdom, the bronze mirror is round with four auspicious animals set inside it.

Bronze Mirrors with Inscription of Hoju
Goryeo dynasty
Left Length 6.7cm / Breadth 6.7cm 

Right Diameter 13.5cm

During the Song period of China, plenty of bronze mirrors were produced in the areas of Jeolganseong (浙江省) and Gangsoseong (江蘇省), which are collectively called Hoju Mirror. Quality bronze mirrors of the Tang period became thin with slender patterns.

Octagonal Bronze Mirror with Paired Bird Designs
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 11.3cm

The handle of the mirror is decorated with pearl roundel; within the octagonal mirror are paired birds with flowers between them.

Bronze Mirror with Flower and Bird Designs
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 9.4cm / Length 18cm

This mirror has a bottle-shaped handle, with designs of a peacock and flowers. Harmoniously set are six flying birds and lotus flower patterns. Lotus flower designs are also found an the bottle-shaped handle.

Bronze Mirror with Double Dragons Designs
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 22.6cm

A popular type during the Goryeo Kingdom, this mirror is rather large with a thick frame. Twin dragons are dynamically expressed in symmetry, with two dragons flying in opposite directions with mouths ajar, and struggling to catch a cintmani.  The detailed patterns are not that subtle; wave patterns are also expressed briefly, but it has lotus floral designs on the body.

Round Bronze Mirror with Chinese Characters
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 14.8cm

Unlike typical square mirrors, this one is quite unique with engravings of ＇煌丕昌天＇ on the four corners at the back.

Octagonal Bronze Mirror with Chinese Characters
Goryeo dynasty
Diameter 16.5cm

On the back of the bronze mirror are engraved the Chinese character ‘煌丕昌天,’
so this type of mirror is called ＇hwang-bi-chang-cheon-gyeong.＇
These mirrors are rarely excavated in China, but they are to be found in the area of the Goryeo Kingdom. Remaining mirrors of the Goryeo are larger and thicker, showing marked difference from those of China.