Hair Pin Item Number: Ed1.271 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A flat hairpin made of gold-coloured metal tapering to an irregular point. A raised flower and an engraved stem decorate the pin. Above the flower, the pin widens into three discs, one above the other, each edged with a circle of tiny raised flowers. A small insect or flower shape is on the border between the discs. The top, and the bottom discs are inset with flat green stones while the middle disc is inset with a rounded red-orange stone. The uppermost green stone is incised with a curvilinear pattern. Chinese characters stamped on the back which is flat.
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. The motifs used on hairpins most commonly were chrysanthemum, lotus, butterfly, and peach. The materials used could be coral, green jade, silver, or pearls.
Iconographic Meaning
The cloud pattern on the jade is a symbol of long life.
Item History
- Made in Korea during 1900
- Collected between 1927 and 1940
- Owned by Richard Brown
- Owned by Aileen P. Walker and Charles Walker before January 9, 1985
- Received from Aileen P. Walker (Donor) and Charles Walker (Donor) on January 9, 1985
What
- Name
- Hair Pin
- Identification Number
- Ed1.271
- Type of Item
- pin
- Material
- gold metal ?, jade mineral ?, stone and carnelian mineral ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut, carved, smoothed, stamped ? and inlaid
- Overall
- height 0.2 cm, width 7.7 cm, depth 1.6 cm
Who
- Culture
- Korean
- Previous Owner
- Richard Brown, Aileen P. Walker and Charles 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
- Current Location
- Case 77
- Accession Number
- 1012/0027