OMG that Artifact!

Flute

Korea, 13th century

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

“Bamboo flutes are known to have existed in Korea since at least the Unified Silla period (668–935), and clay flutes were made before the fourth century. An extremely rare example of a celadon musical instrument, this flute was probably custom-made and intended primarily as a decorative object rather than a functional instrument. The flying cranes, mushroom-shaped clouds, and miniature chrysanthemum blossoms inlaid along its cylindrical body are among the motifs most frequently used on Goryeo celadon.”