Antique Korean Buncheong Ceramic Vase with Incised Designs

An antique Korean Buncheong stoneware vase from early Joseon Dynasty circa late 15th to early 16th century. The vase is of a classic pear form with a ...

A small antique Korean Buncheong stoneware vase from early Joseon Dynasty circa 16th century. The vase is of a classic pear form with a waisted neck, a flared mouth and a ringed base...

An antique Korean Buncheong stoneware tea bowl (chawan) from early Joseon Dynasty circa late 15th to early 16th century. The bowl with a short ring base is nearly entirely covered in a white slip except the base (known as sougusuri in Japanese, total glaze). Iron-colored scrolling vines were painted on with quick and deft brush strokes, rendering the bowl a vital and spontaneous appeal. It appears that the bowl was dipped in the white slip instead of being brushed on, observing from the slip pattern left on the rim of the bowl. The bowl shows significant age and evident of use for tea drinking. There are losses of glaze flakes throughout, along the rim and inside the bowl. The flake off the glaze left a dark spot on the rim, exposing the deep colored clay underneath. Inside the bowl, many of the glaze flakes appear more superficial and retains a yellowing color from the tea stains (known as amamori, rain leak). There is a historical crack line on the exterior (surface only) that result in associated small losses of glaze. It appears that the crack line was the result from the kiln firing and gradually the glaze around it started to reduce. The bowl comes with a later wrapping cloth and a wood tomobako box, but they are not original to the piece. This particular type of Buncheong ware was associated with the Hakbong-ri kilns in the sacred Mount Gyeryong Mountains, west of Daejeon city in the Chungcheong province. During early Joseon Dynasty, the emperor decided to reject Buddhism to embrace the Confucianism. As a result, many monks were forced to abandon their religious life and returned to the secular society. The monks in Gyeryong mountains set up the kilns and started to produce this so called "Hakbong-ri" type of Buncheong ware. The production was shorted-lived for only a few decades from late 15th to early 16th century before it turned to porcelain, but the ware made during that period was noted for their fresh and enigmatic appeal with deft iron-paint decoration. Collectors cherish these rare pieces for their vitality and spontaneity often used them on important occasions of chado in Japan and passed down to generation. For a similar bowl, see Catalog 52 illustrated on page 87 of the book "Korean Buncheong Ceramics...

A Korean ceramic shallow bowl on ring foot in the classic Buncheong (or Punch'ong) style from early Joseon Dynasty circa 15th century. The bowl features...

This large ceramic vase draws attention with its generous proportions, soft green glaze, and finely incised surface patterns. The rounded form rises gently from a narrow base and swe...

A large and impressive Chinese Yixing hexagonal red clay vase with hand painted floral and trailing vine designs dating from the first half of the 20th c...

A vintage Chinese handcrafted green vase from the mid-20th century, with incised floral and bird decor. Created in China during the midcentury period, this vase features a dark green...

A large and boldly painted Korean "Bamboo and Plum" underglaze iron brown porcelain vase, 20th century, Korea. The large porcelain vase of baluster vase form with generous proportions. The bulbous body with high, wide shoulders, tapering down to a flat recessed foot. The body decorated in underglaze iron brown with large designs of tall, leafy bamboo stalks to one side. The opposite side with gnarled branches of blossoming plum. Bamboo is revered in Korea, and Asia in general for its strength, flexibility and quick growing nature. Plum is invested with similar ideals, representing strength and resilience, as it flowers in the depth of winter. The neck and shoulders featuring a design of stylized clouds. The base with a band of stylized waves. All in underglaze iron brown. The vase with a transparent overglaze of bluish white. The vase modeled after a 16th century Joseon vase...