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The artist, title and date of the work must be listed anywhere the image is reproduced:
Korean
Hair ribbon (Daenggi) (early 20th century-mid 20th century)
silk, cotton
(43.8 × 25.9 cm)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Vivien Knowles, 2019
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
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About this work
During the Joseon dynasty, skills in embroidery were considered to be of the utmost importance for women, who were responsible for producing all textiles for the household, including spinning thread, weaving cloth and sewing garments. Domestic sewing and embroidery (minsu) served as a means of artistic expression for women within a strict Confucian social structure. Traditional hair ribbons (daenggi) were used to secure and decorate braided hairstyles. These examples feature on the left side blooming lotus flowers, symbolising fertility, and two ducks on a pond, symbolic of matrimony. On the right side, peony flowers symbolise wealth, and two butterflies represent happiness and marital harmony.