Thursday, October 31, 2013

Silla Korea's Golden Kingdom @ MET

The MET is presenting 100 National Treasures from Korea dating back to the 4th C.  These should not be missed.  It's incredible to view these intricate artifacts preserved from ancient times.  The jewelry, pottery and armor were excavated from royal burial grounds.  The entrance to the exhibit is a  contemporary film of peaceful, mounded Korean landscapes.  These mounds typify the land above covered stone structures enshrining coffins.  The treasures recovered from these tombs revealed intricate, golden jewelry, armor and domesticated vessels.  It is beyond remarkable the skill and craftsmanship of these treasures.  Of particular interest are the funnel shaped containers that were formed using potters' wheels & kilns that reached temperatures of 1,000 C.  The recovery of the casks of a royal couple contained an impressive golden headress for the queen and a military headpiece with winga & a large sword/sheath for the king.  There is a magnificient cobalt blue necklace made from formed glass that is spectacular. The cultural belief in the afterlife is attributed to the found remnants.  In   the exhibit are bead works indigenous to India & Roman style glass vessels.  The nomadic travel & spice trade routes progressing into the 6th & 7th C shows EuroAsia influences.  My interest wanned as the influence of Buddhism became prevalent.  Although, there were large stone tiles indigenous made in the late 7th-8th C to keep out the former Chinese allies.  For the more ambitious, view the textile exhibit which elaborates on the EuroAsian globalization stemming from maritime travel.  The early treasures in this exhibit are priceless.

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