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| Archabbot Norbert Weber, left, and Father Canut D'Avernas filming a silent documentary "Korean Wedding" in 1925 / Courtesy of St. Ottilien Archabbey and OKCHF |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
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| "The Korean Collection at the Mission Museum of St. Ottilien Archabbey" published by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation / Courtesy of OKCHF |
"The Korean Collection at the Mission Museum of St. Ottilien Archabbey" is the 15th book in the foundation's Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage series. The book elaborates on some 1,800 artifacts from the archabbey museum, collected by missionaries of St. Ottilien Archabbey, who were stationed in theBenedictine Abbey ― now the Catholic University of Korea in Hyewha-dong, Seoul ― from 1909.
"We hope that this catalogue will strengthen the groundwork for future research on the Korean collections of overseas museums, thus helping to enhance the public's knowledge of Korea's overseas cultural heritage," the foundation said in a statement.
Highlights of the collection were gathered by Archabbot Norbert Weber (1870―1956), who visited Korea in 1911 and 1925. Weber's collection of 373 items formed the basis of the Korean collection at the Mission Museum and give a peek into the life of early 20th century Korea.
Weber filmed a silent documentary "Korean Wedding" at Naepyeong Church in Anbyeon, South Hamgyeong Province in 1925, detailing the customs of a Korean traditional wedding. Weber cast a newlywed couple for the film and the researchers from the OKCHF found that the "Dallyeong" (Officials' Robe with Round Collar) worn by the groom and "Nogwonsam" (Women's Ceremonial Robe) of the bride are currently on display at the Mission Museum.
The museum also has the original painting of "Manmulsang Peaks of Mt. Geumgang," which was featured as an illustration in Weber's travelogue "In the Diamond Mountains of Korea."
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| A scene from archabbot Norbert Weber's documentary "Korean Wedding" / Courtesy of St. Ottilien Archabbey and OKCHF |
Other notable artifacts from the St. Ottilien Archabbey are related to Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon (1821―1846), the first Korean Catholic priest. The Monastery Church of the abbey houses the final remains of St. Kim and the museum possesses a reliquary pouch that was used to carry the relics with an accompanying certificate of authentication, which was issued in 1920.
The museum also has the "Silver Ashtray" made in the Hanseong Craftwork Manufactory, which lasted from 1908 to 1913 and later became the Craftwork Manufactory of the Office of the Yi Royal Household of the Korean Empire, offering a peek into the modern industrialization of Korean traditional craftwork.
The OKCHF said the catalogue has been brought about by the friendly relations between the foundation and the Mission Museum which spans over seven years. Thanks to the efforts of Benedictine Waegwan Abbey in Korea, which liaised with the foundation and the Germany abbey, the OKCHF received two donations from the museum including armor worn by Joseon infantry in 2018 and a dallyeong wedding robe in February 2020.
The foundation, an affiliate of the Cultural Heritage Administration, has researched over 40,000 Korean cultural properties abroad and published 22 reports since its launch in 2012.
