A Pair of Rank Badges with Single Crane Motif

1800s

A Pair of Rank Badges with Single Crane Motif, 1800s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). Silk, satin damask weave; silk thread embroidery; object: 25.4 x 25.4 cm (10 x 10 in.); mounted: 43.2 x 78.1 cm (17 x 30 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Alma Kroeger Fund 2019.78 Traditionally, square silk badges with embroidered birds and animals were worn on the front and back of official costumes. Rather than simple ornaments, rank badges represent the status of the wearer, with different animals indicating the hierarchy of ranks. The single crane, as on these rank badges, was worn by civil officials of the fourth or higher ranks. Many different types of stitches are used in this pair of rank badges. One of them is the couching stitch that uses a thicker foundation thread and a thinner thread. In this work, gold thread is used as the foundation thread.