Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion? You must join the virtual exhibition queue when you arrive. If capacity has been reached for the day, the queue will close early.

Exhibition

Shell and Resin: Korean Mother-of-Pearl and Lacquer

December 13, 2021–July 5, 2022

Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 233

Free with Museum admission

All exhibitions

Overview Exhibition Objects

Trefoil-shaped covered box with decoration of chrysanthemums

, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell over pigment and brass wire, Korea — Trefoil-shaped covered box with decoration of chrysanthemums
Korea
ca.12th century

Ogival tray decorated with floral scroll, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Ogival tray decorated with floral scroll
Korea
15th–16th century

Stationery box decorated with peony scrolls
, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl; brass fittings, Korea — Stationery box decorated with peony scrolls
Korea
15th–16th century

Box with decoration of peony scrolls, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box with decoration of peony scrolls
Korea
15th–16th century

Box decorated with flowers and clouds, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, and brass wire, Korea — Box decorated with flowers and clouds
Korea
18th century

Box decorated with flowers and clouds, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box decorated with flowers and clouds
Korea
18th century

Stationery box decorated with peony scrolls, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Stationery box decorated with peony scrolls
Korea
18th century

Clothing box decorated with peony scrolls, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell, and brass wire, Korea — Clothing box decorated with peony scrolls
Korea
17th century

Clothing box decorated with dragons, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, and ray skin, Korea — Clothing box decorated with dragons
Korea
19th century

Box decorated with dragons, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ray skin, and brass wire, Korea — Box decorated with dragons
Korea
19th century

Box decorated with phoenixes, floral scrolls, and insects, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box decorated with phoenixes, floral scrolls, and insects
Korea
19th century

Table decorated with floral scroll, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl and metal wire, Korea — Table decorated with floral scroll
Korea
19th century

Table decorated with floral scroll, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl and metal wire, Korea — Table decorated with floral scroll
Korea
19th century

Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers, Lacquered wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ray skin, and brass wire; brass fittings, Korea — Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers
Korea
early 20th century

Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers, Lacquered wood with inlaid mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ray skin, and brass wire; brass fittings, Korea — Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers
Korea
early 20th century

Box decorated with auspicious symbols, Lacquered wood inlaid with flattened and painted ox horn, Korea — Box decorated with auspicious symbols
Korea
19th century

Small chest of drawers decorated with flowers, birds, and insects

, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, with incised design, Korea — Small chest of drawers decorated with flowers, birds, and insects
Korea
early 20th century

Palanquin, Lacquered wood with paper, cellulosic acetate and silk cushion, Korea — Palanquin
Korea
20th century

Saddle, Wood (ebony), lacquer, brass, mother-of-pearl, ivory, iron, silk, leather, silver, Korean — Saddle
Korean
15th century

Octagonal vessel with cover decorated with peonies, Sohn Daehyun Korean, Ottchil lacquer, red pine, hemp, red clay, and mother-of-pearl, Korea — Octagonal vessel with cover decorated with peonies
Sohn Daehyun
2018

Box decorated with grapes and butterflies, Sohn Daehyun Korean, Ottchil lacquer, wood, hemp, and mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box decorated with grapes and butterflies
Sohn Daehyun
2016

Box decorated with the Ten Symbols of Longevity, Sohn Daehyun Korean, Ottchil lacquer, wood, hemp, and mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box decorated with the Ten Symbols of Longevity
Sohn Daehyun
2014

Box with Many Angles, Kim Seol Korean, Ottchil lacquer, hemp, quail eggshell, tofu, and abalone shell, Korea — Box with Many Angles
Kim Seol
1997

Rhythm of the Black Luster 2101, Chung Haecho Korean, Ottchil lacquer and hemp, Korea — Rhythm of the Black Luster 2101
Chung Haecho
2021

Rhythm of the Five Color Luster 1302, Chung Haecho Korean, Ottchil lacquer and hemp, Korea — Rhythm of the Five Color Luster 1302
Chung Haecho
2013

Box with crackle design, Sohn Daehyun Korean, Ottchil lacquer, wood, hemp, and mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box with crackle design
Sohn Daehyun
2018

Rhythm of the Mother-of Pearl 0913, Chung Haecho Korean, Ottchil lacquer, hemp, and mother-of-pearl, Korea — Rhythm of the Mother-of Pearl 0913
Chung Haecho
2009

Draw a Circle, Kim Hyunju Korean, Mother-of-pearl and nickel, Korea — Draw a Circle
Kim Hyunju
2016

Draw a Circle, Kim Hyunju Korean, Mother-of-pearl and copper, Korea — Draw a Circle
Kim Hyunju
2019

Plate, Mother-of-pearl with copper alloy base (underside) and rim frame, India (Gujarat) — Plate
India (Gujarat)
mid-16th–17th century

One of a Pair of Boxes in the Shape of Ducks, Wood with mother-of-pearl, ivory, and glass, China — One of a Pair of Boxes in the Shape of Ducks
China
18th century

One of a Pair of Boxes in the Shape of Ducks, Wood with mother-of-pearl, ivory, and glass, China — One of a Pair of Boxes in the Shape of Ducks
China
18th century

Box with peonies, Carved red lacquer, China — Box with peonies
China
15th century

Box with Scenes of a Departure, Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay; pewter wire, China — Box with Scenes of a Departure
China
late 16th–early 17th century

Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>), Iron, lacquer, mother-of-pearl, Japanese — Pair of Stirrups (Abumi)
Japanese
late 16th–early 17th century

Seal Box with Hunters on Horseback, Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold painting, Japan (Ryūkyū Islands) — Seal Box with Hunters on Horseback
Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)
17th–18th century

Tray with Pair of Dragons, Black lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Japan (Ryūkyū Islands) — Tray with Pair of Dragons
Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)
18th century

Lozenge-Shaped Tray
, Brown lacquer, China — Lozenge-Shaped Tray
China
14th century

Incense burner, Bronze, Korea — Incense burner
Korea

Ornament in the shape of a phoenix, Gold, Korea — Ornament in the shape of a phoenix
Korea

Ornament in the shape of a phoenix, Gold, Korea — Ornament in the shape of a phoenix
Korea

Filigree scent box, Silver, Korea — Filigree scent box
Korea
19th century

Ornament with bird among lotuses, Gold, Korea — Ornament with bird among lotuses
Korea

Ornament with bird among lotuses, Gold, Korea — Ornament with bird among lotuses
Korea

Ornament with Decoration of Bird among Lotuses, Gold, Korea — Ornament with Decoration of Bird among Lotuses
Korea

Bee-shaped ornament, Gold, Korea — Bee-shaped ornament
Korea

Bee-shaped ornament, Gold, Korea — Bee-shaped ornament
Korea

Ornament with insect, Bronze, Korea — Ornament with insect
Korea

Ornament with insect, Bronze, Korea — Ornament with insect
Korea

Mirror decorated with dragons, Bronze, Korea — Mirror decorated with dragons
Korea
11th–12th century

Long-necked jar with horse decoration, Stoneware with incised design and incidental ash glaze, Korea — Long-necked jar with horse decoration
Korea
5th century

Oil bottle decorated with peony leaves

, Stoneware with reverse-inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Oil bottle decorated with peony leaves
Korea
late 12th century

Oil bottle decorated with peony leaves, Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Oil bottle decorated with peony leaves
Korea
second half 12th century

Basin decorated with peonies
, Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Basin decorated with peonies
Korea
second half 12th century

Bowl decorated with peonies, Stoneware with inlaid and reverse-inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Bowl decorated with peonies
Korea
13th century

Bowl decorated with foliate rim and peony

, Stoneware with mold-impressed and incised design under celadon glaze, Korea — Bowl decorated with foliate rim and peony
Korea
early 12th century

Bottle decorated with chrysanthemums and lotus petals
, Stoneware with stamped and inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Bottle decorated with chrysanthemums and lotus petals
Korea
late 13th–14th century

Vertical flute decorated with chrysanthemums, cranes, and clouds

, Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Vertical flute decorated with chrysanthemums, cranes, and clouds
Korea
early 13th century

Maebyeong (plum bottle) decorated with cranes and clouds
, Stoneware with inlaid decoration under celadon glaze, Korea — Maebyeong (plum bottle) decorated with cranes and clouds
Korea
second half 12th century

Maebyeong (plum bottle) decorated with cranes and clouds, Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Maebyeong (plum bottle) decorated with cranes and clouds
Korea
late 13th century

Bowl decorated with phoenixes and clouds, Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze, Korea — Bowl decorated with phoenixes and clouds
Korea
early 14th century

Jar decorated with flowers and insects, Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue design, Korea — Jar decorated with flowers and insects
Korea
mid-18th century

Dragon jar, Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue design, Korea — Dragon jar
Korea
second half 18th century

Jar decorated with tiger and pine tree, Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue design, Korea — Jar decorated with tiger and pine tree
Korea
19th century

Bowl decorated with peony leaves and chrysanthemum, Buncheong ware with sgraffito and stamped design, Korea — Bowl decorated with peony leaves and chrysanthemum
Korea
15th century

Dish with Peony Scroll, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China — Dish with Peony Scroll
China
late 16th–early 17th century

Large jar decorated with peonies, Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue and copper-red design, Korea — Large jar decorated with peonies
Korea
second half 19th century

Brush holder with lotus decoration

, Porcelain with openwork design, Korea — Brush holder with lotus decoration
Korea
mid-19th century

Dish with dragon amid waves

, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China — Dish with dragon amid waves
China

Jar decorated with dragons, Porcelain with underglaze iron-brown design, Korea — Jar decorated with dragons
Korea
17th century

Plate with Monkey, Bees, Magpie, and Deer, Porcelain painted with blue underglaze, China — Plate with Monkey, Bees, Magpie, and Deer
China
late 17th–early 18th century

Tobacco box, Iron inlaid with silver; brass fittings, Korea — Tobacco box
Korea
19th century

Perdu X, Lee Bul South Korean, Mother-of-pearl, acrylic paint on lacquered wood panel, steel frame, Korea — Perdu X
Lee Bul
2018