Bronze Topknot Pin

918–1392

Bronze Topknot Pin, 918–1392. Korea, Goryeo period (918-1392). Bronze; overall: 2 cm (13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, General Income Fund 1918.506 Metallurgy advanced remarkably in the Goryeo period (918-1392), explaining why a large quantity of sophisticated metal artifacts were used not only as daily accessories but also as burial goods. Men put their hair in a knot at the top of their heads. To keep their long hair from falling, a bronze pin such as this one was used. This bronze hairpin was for a man to fix his topknot.