Jar with Scroll Design

From the museum

In premodern Korea, a newborn baby’s umbilical cord and placenta were believed to be a symbol of the life force of the fetus and thus kept in a specially arranged burial site. This jar was made exclusively for burying a placenta, a custom practiced by aristocratic families in Korea in the belief that it would bring happiness to the child. The tiny ear-like handles located around the jar's shoulder allowing string to pass through were used to keep the lid (now missing) tightly closed.

The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0