The Korean Culture Notebook

A museum record can give a Korean ornament a more precise identity than a quick image search. Start with the object’s name, then read its materials and identifying number before deciding what its appearance means. For an American reader encountering the word norigae , one useful starting point is the National Museum of Korea’s record titled “Norigae, Pendant with Perfume Case.” It offers a small, manageable example of how to read an accessory as a collection object. One object, three different kinds of information The museum’s description, what you can observe in its image, and questions that remain unanswered belong in separate notes. Contents 1. What this particular record tells you 2. A closer-looking worksheet 3. Questions before you move on 1. What this particular record tells you The National Museum of Korea collection record names a pendant with a perfume case. It lists Korea under nationality/period, jade within its material classification, and the accession number Namsan783....