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Base for Temple Object | musefully
Base for Temple Object, ca. 17th century. Wood, pigment, 9 13/16 × 25 3/8 × 10 1/4 in. (25.0 × 64.5 × 26.0 cm). Gift of the Carroll Family Collection, 2019.45.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
The interiors of traditional Korean temples and palaces are elaborately decorated, with intricately carved wood furnishings covered in colorful paint. This pair of candlesticks most likely flanked a Buddhist altar, while the turtle originally served as the base for a drum or gong, or perhaps for a large representation of a Buddhist emblem. Alternatively, it is possible that these objects came from a palace interior, because their symbolism is not necessarily Buddhist. Dragons are a lucky emblem, associated with water and especially rain, which is why they are often shown flying through swirling clouds, while turtles represent long life.