Eolgulmunui Sumaksae, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2010

Category

Craft

Designated year

2018

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 경주시 일정로 186 (인왕동, 국립경주박물관)

Coordinates

35.835200, 129.224500Museum-based location

The Roof-end Tile with Human Face Motif, also known by its nickname, Silla smile, was discovered in Sajeong-ri (present-day Sajeong-dong) in Gyeongju in the early twentieth century. The ornamental tile was introduced to academic circles after a Japanese collector named Tanaka Toshinobu purchased it at an antique shop in 1934. The tile was smuggled to Japan sometime after the purchase, and was not repatriated to Korea until October 1972. Unlike other ordinary tiles, which were made using tile molds (wabeom), this tile was made by shaping the desired form by hand and then finishing it with tools. The details of the face suggest that it is the work of an experienced craftsman, while the tile itself shows traces of use. Although the tile is partly damaged, the details of the face - including the clearly defined eyebrows, nicely raised nose and gentle smile lines around the eyes and mouth - have been preserved, reflecting the Silla people’s aspiration for a utopian world. The tile is the only known ornamental roof-end tile made in Korea to have been made by hand, and is regarded as a valuable part of the Korean cultural heritage reflecting the humble, humane life of the common people of Silla and excellence in the tile making .

Location