Follow the Stems on a Korean Mother-of-Pearl Tray

Concept illustration of a dark tray with pale shell-like floral scrolls, not a reproduction or photograph of the Met object.

Try following one curving stem before naming every flower on a Korean mother-of-pearl tray. The Met’s record for an early Joseon ogival tray offers a useful detail: its stems use pearl shell rather than the metal wire found in earlier examples.

1. Start with this specific object

The Met identifies the work as an “Ogival tray decorated with floral scroll,” made in Korea in the 15th–16th century. Its medium is lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl; the object number is 2015.500.3.9. The record currently says “Not on view.”

That last field matters when planning a museum visit. An online collection record lets you study an object without promising it will be waiting in a particular gallery. Check current display information separately before traveling.

2. Trace a line before interpreting it

Material: Look for shell against dark lacquer / Stem: Follow one continuous curve / Petal: Notice where the curve meets a flower / Record: Check title, date and display status

Looking stepQuestion to askNote to make
Whole shapeWhere does the edge change direction?A quick outline
One stemCan I follow a continuous curve?Start and end points
JunctionHow do stem, leaf and flower meet?One enlarged detail
SurfaceWhere does pale inlay meet dark ground?Visible contrast, not a guessed recipe

Use a two-pass exercise: first follow a curve with your eyes, then describe it without naming a plant. “A narrow line bends outward and joins a pointed shape” is a useful observation even when you do not know the motif’s name.

3. Keep the curator’s detail in its scope

The curator notes shell stems in this tray, contrasting them with silver or brass wire in earlier examples. This is a way to look more carefully at the named work; it is not a rule that every Korean lacquer object uses the same construction.

Our cover is an invented illustration. Its curves are not evidence for the museum tray’s exact pattern or workmanship. Use the collection record’s images for close study, and keep material descriptions tied to that record.

Open the Met’s tray record and images

4. Questions while looking

Do I need to identify every flower?
No. Following one line and describing a junction can be a more manageable first exercise than naming the entire pattern.

Does “Not on view” mean the record is unavailable?
No. The online record and physical display status are different. The status reported here was checked on the date below.

Checked October 19, 2026 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, object 2015.500.3.9.

The cover is an AI-created concept illustration, not a museum photograph. The explanatory chart was independently composed from this article.

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