Iron Mace with Silver-inlaid Demon Design

This iron mace with a silver-inlaid demon-face design was made as a ceremonial weapon around the 19th century. It is made of iron, and its surface was chiselled to inlay floral designs in silver above and below. The striking head is shaped like a lotus bud, with goblin faces inlaid in silver on either side. Above the striking head is a thunder-pattern design, and below the lotus bud is a petal design. This chiselling-and-inlay technique was used mainly on ironware, and it emerged in the mid-to-late Joseon period to become the mainstream inlay technique of the time. The demon-face design is a symbolic depiction of a supernatural being that wards off all manner of disaster, disease and evil, and this decoration appears to have been adopted in the hope of repelling natural calamities and misfortunes of every kind. The silver thread inlaid into this mace is well preserved, and the inlaid patterns are relatively fine, showing excellent workmanship; as no identical example is currently known, it is also recognised as rare, giving it value worthy of designation.

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Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물