Korean Art at Peabody Essex Museum

 

Rank badge with two cranes and clouds for a civil official, 19th century
Artist in Korea, Rank badge with two cranes and clouds for a civil official, 19th century. Embroidered silk threads on silk damask. Gift of Gustavus Goward, 1899. E9785.
© Peabody Essex Museum

 
 

Korean Art

Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture

 

From the late Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) to today, PEM’s exceptional collection explores art, culture, and life in Korea during a time of significant transition and global connection.

PEM’s early Korean collection was primarily formed by Edward Sylvester Morse, director of the Peabody Academy of Science (a predecessor organization to PEM), who proactively pursued Korean acquisitions during his tenure from 1880 to 1914. Among his most significant acquisitions from this period is a set of eight Korean musical instruments played at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

PEM’s connection with Korea was also strengthened by Yu Kil-Chun (1856-1914), the reformist scholar and politician who came to the U.S. as a member of the first Korean delegation and lived near Salem for nearly two years. Yu Kil-Chun and other early travelers between the U.S. and Korea donated many meaningful and foundational works to the museum’s collection.

PEM’s Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture brings to life the compelling stories of these early pioneers, presented alongside the museum’s renowned Korean textile collection, exquisite 19th-century paintings — including the Welcoming Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan screen — and inspiring contemporary works by Nam June Paik (1932–2006) and other Korean and Korean American artists.

The Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture has been made possible with the support of the Korea Foundation. Generous leadership support is provided by the National Museum of Korea; Samsung Foundation of Culture, Korea; the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation; the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation; the Henry Luce Foundation; Helen H. Kim and Colin A. Warwick; Maria Kim and Sung-Dae Hong; the Council of Korean Americans, Boston; the Korean American community of New England; the Korean Cultural Center, Washington, D.C.; the Korean American Citizens League of New England; the Korean Cultural Society of Boston; an anonymous donor; Linda Champion; Mrs. Yu Suk Hee; and other generous donors.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

Ten-panel screen (Banquet of Guo Ziyi), late 19th-early 20th century
Artist in Korea, Ten-panel screen (Banquet of Guo Ziyi), late 19th-early 20th century. Silk, paint and ink. Gift of Cynthia M. Nadai, in memory and honor of Edwin Morgan. 2023.29.1. Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Artist in Korea, Sewing dish (detail), 1800s
Paper, lacquer, and mother-of-pearl. Museum purchase, made possible by an anonymous donor, 1998. E300229. Photo by Dennis Helmar.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Screen, late 18th century
Korean artist, screen, late 18th century. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Beal. 134187.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Village guardian posts (jangseung), late 19th century
Artists in Korea, Village guardian posts (jangseung), late 19th century. Wood, pigment. Gift of Yamanaka and Company, in memory of Professor Edward S. Morse, 1930. E20809, E20810. Photo by Dennis Helmar.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Free reed wind instrument (saenghwang), 19th century
Artist in Korea, Free reed wind instrument (saenghwang), 19th century. Bamboo, rattan, wood, and bone. Museum purchase from the World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, 1893. E9796.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Noblewoman’s bridal fan (jinjuseon), 18th century
Artist in Korea, Noblewoman’s bridal fan (jinjuseon), 18th century. Embroidered silk and metal fittings. Museum purchase. 1927. E20165. Photo by Dennis Helmar
© Peabody Essex Museum

Rank badge with two cranes and clouds for a civil official, 19th century
Artist in Korea, Rank badge with two cranes and clouds for a civil official, 19th century. Embroidered silk threads on silk damask. Gift of Gustavus Goward, 1899. E9785.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Hwarot (bridal robe), late 18th century
Artists in Korea, hwarot (bridal robe), late 18th century. Silk, paper, cotton, wool, and metallic thread. Museum purchase from Yamanaka and Company, 1927. E20190.F. Photo by Dennis Helmar.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Artist in Korea, Welcoming Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan (detail), early 1800s
Ink and color on silk. Museum purchase, made possible in part by W.C. Endicott and George A. Peabody, 1927. E20262.H.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Artist in Korea, Jojokdeung (foot illuminating lantern), before 1885.
Paper, wood, and metal. Gift of Percival Lowell, 1885. E1463.
Photo by Jeffrey R. Dykes/PEM.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Hwarot (bridal robe), late 18th century (detail)
Artists in Korea, hwarot (bridal robe), late 18th century. Silk, paper, cotton, wool, and metallic thread. Museum purchase from Yamanaka and Company, 1927. E20190.F. Photo by Dennis Helmar.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Dragon jar, late 19th century
Artists in Korea, Dragon jar, late 19th century. Porcelain. Gift of Kang Collection, Korean Art, New York, 2004. E302330. Photo by Dennis Helmar
© Peabody Essex Museum

Hat (gat), before 1883
Artist in Korea, Hat (gat), before 1883. Hair, lacquer, and bamboo. Gift of Yu Giljun, 1883. E1573.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Artist in Korea, Bandaji (front-dropping chest), early 1900s
Zelkovas tree and brass. Gift of Cynthia M. Nadai, in memory and honor of Edwin Morgan, 2023.29.2.
Photo by Kathy Tarantola/PEM
© Peabody Essex Museum

Fan (taegeukseon), 19th century
Artist in Korea, Fan (taegeukseon), 19th century. Paper, lacquer, and wood. Gift of Dr. Charles Goddard Weld, 1899. E9812.
© Peabody Essex Museum

Nectar Ritual (gamnotaeng) hanging scroll, 1744
Artists in Korea, Nectar Ritual (gamnotaeng) hanging scroll, 1744. Ink and pigment on silk. Museum purchase, made possible by an anonymous donor, 2004. E302324.
© Peabody Essex Museum