[Porter carrying clay pots strapped to A-frame on his back]
- Title:
- [Porter carrying clay pots strapped to A-frame on his back]
- Collection:
- Willard D. Straight in Korea
- Date:
- ca. 1904
- Country:
- South Korea
United States - ID Number:
- 1260.60.09.41.01
- Collection Number:
- 1260
- File Name:
- 1260.60.09.41.01.tif
- Work Type:
- Photographs
- Subject:
- Transportation
Wagons
Working class
Laborers
Potteries
Food - Measurement:
- 7.7 x 10.5 (centimeters)
- Description:
- This porter carries more than 12 various-sized clay pots, stacked safely in his A-frame. These jars, called a 'siru', were an important part of daily life. They were used to steam rice cakes. 'The jars are made in special kilns through a method of reduction: flames and air are mixed into a fierce heat. Pine twigs are used to keep the flames intense, and the kiln's smokestack and fuel-hole are closed to intensify the heat. The clay ware controls the humidity and helps purify the jars.' Source: Website www.lifeinkorea.com/Images/ tools/kimch508.jpg (viewed May 9, 2003) 'The human porter who was the most ubiquitous carrier of heavy loads, the A-frame on his back piled high with wood, vegetables, fish, seaweed, bamboo, paper, or pots and pans. It was said that a man could lift up to 250 lbs. with ease and 300 lbs. with assistance. With 100 lbs. on his back he could average thirty miles a day.' Source: Pratt, Keith. Old Seoul, 2002, p. 36.
- Cite As:
- Willard Dickerman Straight papers, #1260. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
- Repository:
- Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
- Archival Collection:
- Willard Dickerman Straight papers
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- The images in this collection are in the public domain and are believed to have no known U.S. copyright or other restrictions. The Library does not charge for permission to use these materials and does not grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute them. However, as a good scholarly practice we recommend that all patrons cite the Library as the source of the reproduction by including the following text: Courtesy of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. For a more detailed explanation please read the Library Guidelines for Using Public Domain Text, Images, Audio, and Video Reproduced from Cornell University Library Collections at http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/guidelines.html.