Statue

God of literature. Lacquered figure seated on an armed throne with footstool, from Korea. The costume, with its long robes, its girdles, its deeply pendent sleeves, and its flat topped headdress, is that formerly worn by the higher dignataries of the Korean court, like the style of hairdressing shown here, it was originally derived from ancient China. The portliness of the figure indicates prosperity and well being. The arms of the throne are decorated in a simple scroll pattern, the feet of the throne and footstool are supported on the heads of mythological monsters, and the panel in front of the pedestal has a black and gold lacquered dragon on a red background. It is made of papier-mâché on wood.