Creation Date

Sculpture creation date: 1392-1910

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Description

Black and white photograph of a carved stone sculpture originally identified as a Korean scholar statue standing on a gravel-covered rooftop terrace at Portland Public Library, Portland, Maine. This piece may actually be a Muninseok, a statue of a civil official from the Joseon dynasty (1392 to 1910), often placed in pairs as tomb guardians. The photograph presents one of a pair of columnar Korean statues installed facing each other on the fourth-floor rooftop of the Portland Public Library, shown here in a three-quarter view (facing image right). The figure wears a long robe that falls in straight, slightly flared lines to the base, with carved sleeve folds curving around the arms, and a round cylindrical hat that sits on the head. The hands are positioned at chest level, held together as if grasping a scroll, and a simple belt or sash is indicated by a horizontal ridge around the waist. The lower portion of the statue includes a stepped base with carved, arch-like patterns and a rough, weathered texture that matches the rest of the light-colored stone. The statue stands directly on small stones that blanket the rooftop surface under an overcast sky. Provenance information for the work indicates that the two statues are believed to originate in Kyonggi-Do Province, Korea, between 1400 and 1960 when they were removed by Dr. Leon Sinder. Sinder donated the sculptures in 1980 as a gift to the people of Portland in esteem for Peter and Terry Greer. Portland, Maine. 1994. Unidentified, photographer. (See p16976-p17020)(NA4800.)

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) (1990-1995) was a nationwide survey that ran from 1990-1995 documenting America’s outdoor sculpture. Established in 1990, SOS! helped educate local communities about America’s endangered sculptural heritage. The Maine Arts Commission was one of 106 organizations to participate in this survey.

Topic

Sculpture

Collection

MF161

Series Number

NA4800

Identifier

p17006

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted