This fragment in the form of a horse head was probably part of a horse-shaped ritual vessel from the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE – 668 CE). The nostrils and eyes were pierced using a pointed tool; the triangular ears, the mane and the horse-gear were modelled separately and attached to the head. The shape of the partly damaged mouth and the bridle that comes down from the sides of the head indicate that the horse may have held a bit. The object is made of grey stoneware and is unglazed.
Horse-shaped vessels were used for holding and pouring liquor during funerary rituals and ceremonies, as well as burial objects in the Silla kingdom and the Gaya Confederacy from around the mid-4th century to the early 6th century. They have their origin in bird-shaped vessels, which gradually transformed into the shape of a horse. Around the 4th century, a specific funerary ritual involving the burial of precious horse gear and the sacrifice of horses was practised, which is probably related to the production of the horse-shaped funerary vessels. Like birds, horses were believed to carry the soul of the deceased and to lead it on its journey into the afterlife. Examples of horse-shaped pottery from Gyeongju discussed in a survey on horse-shaped pottery of the Three Kingdoms period by In-Joo Shin, Curator at the Dong-A University Museum, shows that they were of elaborate appearance with horse gear and a rider and usually had two openings – an inlet on the horse's back and a spout protruding from the chest of the horse. It is probable that the fragment was once part of such a vessel.
Donated by King Gustaf VI Adolf (1882 – 1973).
The old catalogue records state that this artefact was found near the city of Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE), and was donated by the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess for inclusion in the collection of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities (“Objects from Korea handed over to the East Asian Collections (Östasiatiska Samlingarna) by Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Fragments of clay figures found near Keishū [Gyeongju] Southern Korea. Sira [Silla] Period. K4025: 1-2.").
This object was probably acquired by King Gustaf VI Adolf (1882 – 1973), then Crown Prince, and Queen Louise (1889 – 1965), then Crown Princess, during their journey to Korea in October 1926. The royal couple visited Gyeongju where the Crown Prince, who had a keen interest in Korean art and archaeology, had the opportunity to participate in the excavation of a royal Silla tomb of the 5th century - The Auspicious Phoenix Tomb (Seobongchong) - on 10th October 1926. A golden crown with phoenix ornaments (Treasure No. 339, now held in the National Museum of Korea; Bongwan-014319-00000) was unearthed, and the Crown Prince received a precious gold earring (Accession No. K-04026-001) as a commemorative gift. The character "seo" in the tomb's name, which means "auspicious", was borrowed from the first character of the Korean name for Sweden, “Seojeon.” Today, an engraved stone stele in memory of the royal visit and the Crown Prince’s participation in the excavation can be seen at the site, and a pine tree planted by the Crown Prince is still in situ in front of the Gyeongju Culture Center (Gyeongju munhwawon). This visit of the later King of Sweden to Korea is considered an important event in Korean-Swedish relations.
Sanghyeong togi ui segye 상형토기의 세계 (The World of Figurative Earthernware). Danho Munhwa Yeongu 단호문화연구, No. 12. Yongin: Yongin University Museum, 2008.
Whitling, F. 2013. “Our Eminent Chairman” Gustaf VI Adolf, the Swedish China Research Committee and the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. In: Myrdal, E. (ed.) Kungens Gåva – Gustaf VI Adolfs gåva till svenska folket, Östasiatiska utställningskatalog nr 69 (The King’s Gift – Gustaf VI Adolf’s Gift to the People of Sweden, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Exhibition Catalogue no. Stockholm: Östasiatiska museet/Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, pp. 179-186.
Palmqvist, A. 2013. Introduction. In: Myrdal, E. (ed.) Kungens Gåva – Gustaf VI Adolfs gåva till svenska folket, Östasiatiska utställningskatalog nr 69 (The King’s Gift – Gustaf VI Adolf’s Gift to the People of Sweden, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Exhibition Catalogue no. Stockholm: Östasiatiska museet/Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, p. 171.
Siggstedt, M. 2011. Korea på Östasiatiska Museet. Exhibition Catalogue No. 67. Stockholm: Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, pp. 111-112.
Tigercrona, P. 2013. The Crown Prince’s and Princess’ Round-The-World-Tour, 1926-27. In: Myrdal, E. (ed.) Kungens Gåva – Gustaf VI Adolfs gåva till svenska folket, Östasiatiska utställningskatalog nr 69 (The King’s Gift – Gustaf VI Adolf’s Gift to the People of Sweden, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Exhibition Catalogue no. Stockholm: Östasiatiska museet/Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, p. 186.
Gyllensvärd, B. 1975. Gustaf VI Adolfs Gåva, Utställning i Östasiatiska museet, Stockholm, Maj – september 1975, Östasiatiska museets utställningskatalog nr 23 (Gustaf VI Adolf’s gift, Exhibition at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, May – September 1975, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Exhibition Catalogue no. 23). Stockholm: Östasiatiska museet, p. 11-12.
K. Hamada and J.G. Andersson. 1932. “Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf as a Promoter of Archaeological Research, The Far East by K. Hamada and J.G. Andersson”. Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, vol. 4: pp. 11-12.
Östasiatiska Samlingrarnas, Nyförvarv 1926-1927 (East Asian Collections, new acquisitions 1926-1927), p. 10.
Östasiatiska museet. 2018. Korea — Östasiatiska museet. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.varldskulturmuseerna.se/en/ostasiatiskamuseet/research-collections/collections/korea/. [Accessed 19 October 2017].
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