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Antique Korean Buncheong Flat Bottle Vase with Incised Designs

Offered by: Tishu

Description
A Korean Buncheong stoneware vase circa 15th century of Joseon Dynasty. The robust vase with thick walls was made in a bottle form with rounded square contour and flattened surfaces. It was made as a utilitarian vessel and traditionally used to store liquid such as wine. The primary incised design on the front and back features an egret bird (or the like) perching on a tree branch with a fish caught in its beak. The imagery was confined to a double-lined roundel following the edge of the facade. The folky pictorial is full of dynamic energy and playful charm. On the sides of the vase, there are secondary design of incised cascading patterns, likely represent water. The shoulder is surrounded with sgraffito design of double-border peony petals. The execution of the decoration is rustic typical of Buncheong ware made in that period.
Buncheong ware was made in early Joseon Dynasty, transitioning from the iconic celadon ware of Goryeo Dynasty and preceding white porcelain production in the later Joseon period. Incision and surface carving (sgraffito) were the main techniques used for surface decoration. The stoneware was first fired in iron-brown underglaze which formed a background. Then it was covered in white slip, on which a preconceived design was created by incision and sgraffito to expose the dark underglaze. Finally, a transparent glaze was applied on top which shows tends to show small crackles throughout, as seen on this piece. Buncheong ware in the early period have a more robust body with simple, but effective design, as also exemplified in this piece. The base ring of the vase was not covered with white slip or glaze, exposing a rather dark sandy clay.
As often the case, there are flaws occurred in the making on this type of Buncheong ware. There are a couple of dark specks and a surface crack through the glaze on one side, occurred from the firing process. The transparent overglaze was uneven, pooling in places, causing color unevenness in some areas manifesting in a slightly redder hue. There is also a small chip of lost glaze happened sometime in its life, which perfectly exposed the dark iron-brown underglaze (a window to the making process so to speak). Despite, or in a way because, of these imperfections, the piece presents an earthy honesty and a strong wabi-sabi appeal.
Reference: A similar bottle with incised fish design is in the collection of National Museum of Korea (duk 2963); he collection of Honolulu Museum of Art (2522.1).
Compared to lot 505 In Sotheby's New York sale "SUBLIME BEAUTY: Korean Ceramics from a Private Collection" 22 September 2022
Lot 353 in Christie's. Japanese and Korean Art, New York, 19 March 2019.

More Information

Origin:	South Korea
Period:	Pre 18th Century
Materials:	ceramic
Condition:	Good. As noted in the description, kiln flaws and a small old glaze chip, also minute glaze losses around the mouth rim. Please examine all the detail photos carefully.
Creation Date:	15th century
Styles / Movements:	Asian, Traditional
Patterns:	Animal/Insects, Asian/Oriental, Handmade
Incollect Reference #:	721176

Dimensions

W.	7.5 in;	H.	8 in;	D.	6.5 in;
W.	19.05 cm;	H.	20.32 cm;	D.	16.51 cm;

Message from Seller:

Our collection ranges from Neolithic Art to 20th century collectible art and design. It spans 5000 thousand years of history and crosses many civilizations and cultures. Our aesthetic strongholds are Mid-century studio design, Japanese and Korean art, Asian Textile Art and Contemporary Aboriginal Art. The diversity is united behind our singular vision to seek for timeless beauty and driven purely by our passion