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Exhibition Name
Staff of Buddhist Duster with Chrysanthemum and Scroll Design
- Nationality/Period
Unified Silla Period
- Materials
Bone, Horn and Shell - Lacquerware Inlaid With Mother-Of-Pearl
- Category
religion - Buddhism - ceremony - priest's horse hair flapper
- Dimensions
L. 42.7cm, D. 1.6cm
- Accession Number
Sinsu 4033
- Location
Wood and Lacquer Crafts
Korea has a long tradition of the lacquer and mother-of-pearl art, which produces various household and personal objects ornamented with the techniques of lacquering and inlaying iridescent mother-of-pearl or abalone designs. This monk’s duster that is decorated with a mother-of-pearl vine design exhibits the unique technique of Goryeo by which the artisan laid a copper wire upon the surface to form the main stem of the vine and then added mother-of-pearl strips to form vine leaves. Between the vine stems there are chrysanthemum blossom designs that were created by gluing red and yellow turtle shell strips together. A monk’s duster is an instrument of ascetic practice that is held in hands symbolically in attempt to sweep away agonies and anxieties from one’s heart. It was usually a stick attached with tail hair of cows or horses.