Wonsam (wedding robe)
late 19th century
This brightly colored robe is one of the multiple layers of a Korean woman’s wonsam (traditional wedding dress). The stripes in vivid colors—red, pink, green, and blue—adorn the sleeves. Wonsam used to be a ceremonial robe for upper-class women, and the back panel was usually longer than the front, as seen in this dress. Wonsam continue to be worn in traditional weddings, and their use has expanded to include those not in the upper class.
Silk gauze and silk plain weave: patched and stitched
60 x 68 x 48 in. (152.4 x 172.7 x 121.9cm)
Gift of Frank S. Bayley III
92.145
Photo: National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea