Cleveland Museum of Art

Hexafoil-Shaped Table with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

Date

late 1400s–early 1500s

Medium

Inlaid abalone shells on black lacquer ground, applied with red lacquer on the interior

Culture

Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)

Department

Korean Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This low table showcases intricate mother-of-pearl and twisted brass-wire inlay forming chrysanthemum scrolls and floral lattices against black lacquer. As one of the few surviving early Joseon lacquer works employing the rare brass-wire technique, it reflects refined craftsmanship made for elite patrons. Likely used in Buddhist offering ceremonies, it would have supported precious ritual objects such as rolls of sutras or miniature Buddhist statuary. The use of inlaid twisted brass wires in this mother-of-pearl lacquer table was first introduced in the twelfth century and is believed to have been employed in high-quality lacquerware through the end of the fifteenth century.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.