Hair Pin Item Number: Ed1.269 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A hairpin consisting of a flared tube of silver tapering to a long slender point with a translucent pink stone (rose quartz) inserted into the open end. The stone has an elongated double-lobed globular shape with a simple curvilinear carving. The pin is indented into three lobes at about one-third of the distance from the stone.

History Of Use

In the early and middle Chosun Dynasty, such hairpins were important, as they were worn in the hair at the front. In the late Chosun Dynasty they were worn at the back of the head, inserted into the woman’s bun created by braiding her hair and wrapping it around a long hairpin. They were also used by women to part their hair, and to clean their ears, if they were in the shape of an earpick. The motifs used on hairpins most commonly were chrysanthemum, lotus, butterfly, and peach. The materials used could be coral, green jade, silver, or pearl.

Iconographic Meaning

The wave pattern on the stone is a symbol of long life.

Item History

What

Name
Hair Pin
Identification Number
Ed1.269
Type of Item
pin
Material
silver metal and quartz mineral
Manufacturing Technique
cut, carved, smoothed, flattened, incised ?, rolled ? and soldered ?
Overall
height 0.4 cm, width 9.6 cm, depth 0.9 cm

Who

Culture
Korean
Previous Owner
Richard Brown, Charles Walker and Aileen P. Walker
Received from
Aileen P. Walker (Donor) and Charles Walker (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Korea

When

Creation Date
during 1900
Collection Date
between 1927 and 1940
Ownership Date
before January 9, 1985
Acquisition Date
on January 9, 1985

Other

Item Classes
metalwork
Condition
good
Accession Number
1012/0025