Treasure-Level Korean Cultural Heritage Exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the U.S.

Foundation for Cultural Heritage Abroad Publishes 'Korean Cultural Heritage in the Cleveland Museum of Art, USA'

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The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation announced on the 15th that it has published a catalog-style report on the results of a comprehensive survey of Korean cultural assets held by the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States. The report is titled "Korean Cultural Heritage Held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, USA." It contains research findings on 341 items and 379 pieces of Korean cultural heritage surveyed in three rounds during 2015 and 2016. The report also includes illustrated explanations of major artifacts and scholarly articles highlighting important collections.

The Cleveland Museum of Art has been collecting high-quality Korean cultural assets since 1915. Most of these items are well-preserved and hold significant cultural value. A representative example is the Celadon Incised Parrot Ewer. This Goryeo celadon was donated in 1921 by John Severance, son of Lewis Severance, who contributed to expanding Jejungwon (濟衆院) into Severance Hospital. The body features three parrots flying in different postures delicately and elegantly depicted with incised lines. It is believed to have been produced around the 12th century in Goryeo, in regions such as Gangjin, for a high-end clientele. Generally, the glaze is even and exhibits a beautiful jade-green color.

Bronze Inlay Bowl

The Cleveland Museum of Art also houses a Goryeo-era bronze vessel demonstrating the bronze silver inlay technique. This vessel is decorated with a circular Ruyi-head pattern (如意頭文) in silver inlay and inscribed with poetic verses on its four sides. The spaces between are adorned with child figures and pomegranate arabesque patterns. An official explained, "The arrangement of patterns is similar to that applied on the bronze silver inlaid incense burner from Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan (Treasure No. 1735)."

The gilt-bronze Amitabha Triad statue, created in the 15th century, is another notable cultural asset. It is a sculptural group in the Amitabha triad form, consisting of the bald Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the white-robed Avalokitesvara. The statue is characterized by the posture of the figures and the draping of the garments flowing down the sides of the pedestal. An official stated, "Although the lotus pedestal connecting the triad with lotus branches is slightly damaged, it demonstrates the sculptural completeness and casting technology of the 15th century."

Gilt-Bronze Amitabha Triad Statue

The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation has surveyed and researched approximately 40,000 overseas cultural assets to date, publishing the results in twenty-five volumes of survey reports. These can be accessed at national and public libraries and research institutions.

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