Art Crafts
The archetype of Korean art was born in the Neolithic Age, when Korea¡¯s aesthetic sense was established. By the Bronze Age, art crafts boasting a high level of artistry including the Korean-style bronze dagger, knobbed mirror, and various kinds of ritual vessels were produced in earnest. The development of metal casting through the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla periods led to high production of metal crafts. The subsequent Goryeo and Joseon periods also saw various metal crafts flourish. Most antique wooden furniture and wooden crafts that have survived are from the Joseon period, and they are characterized by beauty intrinsic to the materials used rather than rich decoration. Readily available woods showing the grains were processed by various methods, and elegant pieces of just the right size suitable for the lifestyle of Joseon were made. Folk art engenders a wide range of genres featuring different mediums including ceramics, wood, ox-horn, lacquer, embroidery, and paper.
The Art Crafts section presents a varied collection of works from archaeological artifacts to crafts produced during the Joseon period. Included among the archaeological artifacts are knobbed mirrors from the Bronze Age and weapons, personal ornaments, and earthenware from the Three Kingdoms period. Bronze Age tools and weapons show clearly how Paleolithic people lived on the Korean Peninsula and bespeak of their metalwork prowess. Dazzling gold works symbolizing the power of the ruling class reveal that metalwork technique peaked during the Three Kingdoms period. Personal ornaments and horse ornaments from the Three Kingdoms Period indicate how truly refined the culture was. Exquisite metal works from Goryeo period represent the undeniable excellence of metalwork of Korea. Through the Goryeo and Joseon periods, wood craftworks became representative of Korean folk art, allowing us to glimpse into the lifestyle of the people at the time.