An extremely rare celadon flute, this piece was probably custom-made and intended primarily as a decorative object rather than as a functional instrument. The flying cranes, mushroom-shaped clouds, and miniature chrysanthemum blossoms inlaid along its body appear frequently on Goryeo celadon. Gold mixed with lacquer resin was applied to the mouth, a technique, known as kintsugi, used to mend and restore ceramic.
On view from August 6, 2022–October 15, 2023
Artwork Details
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청자 상감 구름 학 국화 무늬 피리 고려 靑磁象嵌雲鶴菊花文笛 高麗
Title:Vertical flute decorated with chrysanthemums, cranes, and clouds
Period:Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
Date:early 13th century
Culture:Korea
Medium:Stoneware with inlaid design under celadon glaze
Dimensions:L. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm)
Classification:Ceramics
Credit Line:Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2008
Accession Number:2008.71
[ Nagel Auktionen , Stuttgart, DE, until 2008; sold to MMA]
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Arts of Korea," June 10–October 24, 2008.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of Korea," July 7–November 15, 2009.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Contemplations on the Moon Jar," November 16, 2009–April 25, 2010.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Arts of Korea," May 19–November 7, 2010.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Representation/Abstraction in Korean Art," November 23, 2010–March 20, 2011.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Patchwork Textiles Across Cultures," August 24–December 5, 2011.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of Korea: Buddhism and Buddhist Art," December 9, 2011–June 3, 2012.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Korean Art," June 8–November 11, 2012.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Flora and Fauna in Korean Art," June 15, 2013–June 1, 2014.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Still Life in Korean Art," June 7, 2014–February 1, 2015.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Korea: 100 Years of Collecting at the Met," February 7, 2015–March 27, 2016.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Expressions of Nature in Korean Art," April 2–September 18, 2016.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Splendors of Korean Art," October 1, 2016–October 22, 2017.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Essential Korea," June 7, 2018–November 14, 2021.
National Museum of Korea. "Goryeo: The Glory of Korea," December 4, 2018–March 3, 2019.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Shell and Resin: Korean Mother-of-Pearl and Lacquer," December 13, 2021–July 5, 2022.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Jegi: Korean Ritual Objects," August 6, 2022–October 15, 2023 (on view August 6, 2022–October 15, 2023).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Lineages: Korean Art at The Met," November 6, 2023–October 20, 2024.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1985–2007. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008, pp. 14, 62.
Kungnip Chungang Pangmulgwan. Tae Koryŏ 918-2018: Kŭ Ch'allanhan Tojŏn: T'ŭkpyŏljŏn 대고려 918-2018 : 그 찬란한 도전 : 특별전 (Goryeo: the glory of Korea: special exhibition). Exh. cat. Seoul: Kungnip Chungang Pangmulgwan, 2018, pp. 83, 320, cat. no. 090.
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