Arkivism
Spoon
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Spoon

918–1392 · bronze

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Celadons, spoons, seals, and bronze mirrors were the most common burial objects in tombs during the Goryeo period (918–1392). Furnishing tombs with an elaborate assemblage of objects was believed to honor and comfort the newly dead. Generally, Goryeo tombs were left untouched until the late 1800s. During the colonial period (1910–45), however, Japanese archaeologists hastily excavated the tombs located in Kaeseong, the former capital of the Goryeo period. Scholars recently have proposed that toward the end of the 14th century, Koreans enjoyed meat-based soups more than any other dishes, explaining why many more spoons than chopsticks were buried in tombs.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineSpoon (청동 수저 [靑銅匙]), 918–1392. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Bronze; overall: 26 cm (10 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, General Income Fund, 1918.538

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