Collection record · Dress & textiles
Bridal Robe (Hwarot)
The collection record classifies this work as garment. It is dated 1850–1910. Recorded culture or place: Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Bridal Robe (Hwarot)
- Date
- 1850–1910
- Culture / origin
- Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
- Materials and technique
- Satin weave silk; silk embroidery; paper edging on neck and sleeves
- Dimensions
- Overall: 121.9 x 186.7 cm (48 x 73 1/2 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1918.549
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This bride's robe is exquisitely embroidered with various symbols of happiness in colorful silk threads. Butterflies stand for marital happiness; the phoenix, numerous offspring; and lotus flowers and white cranes, longevity. Yet, the bridal robe does not attest to the life of luxury. To the contrary, many traces of repairs, trimmings, and patchwork reflect Joseon period women’s commitment to value neo-Confucian aesthetics of frugality and modesty.
Substantial repairs and patching reveal that this robe served as an important communal resource to be shared and passed down through several generations. Its collar and sleeves are covered in thick white paper; this paper is replaced with new paper for each bride, while the robe itself was reused for decades.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · The Worcester R. Warner Collection · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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