Silver Bracelet Inscribed with Names of the Owner and Maker

This artifact with the two entwined, three-toed dragons with their tongues out is a bracelet that the Queen had worn. The detail of the dragons' scales and even toenails is very intricate, making the bracelet so exquisite and stylish. The value of this artifact is not only due to the detailed decorations, but also because of the names that are engraved on the inside.

Take a look at the inside of the bracelet. It is a little faded, but there are definitely engravings of Chinese characters. Shall we read them?

"February, 520 A.D., a person named Dari made a silver bracelet for the Queen."

Similar to brand names on bags or clothes produced today, the maker’s name was engraved on the bracelet. Regardless of how skilled the ancient artisans were, it is difficult to imagine them engraving their name on their work because of their low rank.

This bracelet is the only artifact from Baekje that bears the name of both the artisan jeweler and the owner, and thus has been deemed exceedingly valuable. “Dari” is the first known artisan from this period, and he was the first person to mark his name in Korean history.