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White Porcelain Jar with Lotus Design Painted in Underglaze Copper Red

Jar
1750-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In Korea, porcelains covered with a nearly translucent glaze and fired at high temperatures of approximately 1300 degrees Celsius, were first made in the 15th century. Underglaze iron oxide was used for creating designs on celadons during the Koryo dynasty (918-1392), but became especially popular in the 17th century. Underglaze copper-red decoration was first developed in the 12th century, but was virtually unused until the 18th century. Dating from the 18th century, this jar is painted in underglaze copper-red with large lotus plants. Gaps in the thickly applied glaze allow the red body colour to show through in several places.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWhite Porcelain Jar with Lotus Design Painted in Underglaze Copper Red
Materials and techniques
Thrown, painted and glazed porcelain
Brief description
Jar, porcelain, with underglaze red painted decoration, Korea, Choson dynasty, Early 18th century
Physical description
The jar is painted in underglaze copper red with large lotus plants. Its form is S shaped. Gaps in the thickly applied glaze allow the red body colour to show through in several places.
Colour: Red and white

This heavily potted jar has an upright rim and bulging shoulders which narrow towards the base. Lotuses are painted in underglaze copper red on the front and back. The glaze has a bluish-white tint, and there are sand spur marks on the base. The jar was produced at a provincial kiln during the late 18th century.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 23.2cm
  • Height: 28.9cm
  • Mouth diameter: 14.3cm
  • Base diameter: 14cm
Style
Subjects depicted
Summary
In Korea, porcelains covered with a nearly translucent glaze and fired at high temperatures of approximately 1300 degrees Celsius, were first made in the 15th century. Underglaze iron oxide was used for creating designs on celadons during the Koryo dynasty (918-1392), but became especially popular in the 17th century. Underglaze copper-red decoration was first developed in the 12th century, but was virtually unused until the 18th century. Dating from the 18th century, this jar is painted in underglaze copper-red with large lotus plants. Gaps in the thickly applied glaze allow the red body colour to show through in several places.
Bibliographic references
  • W.B. Honey. Corean Pottery. London: Faber and Faber, 1947.
  • John Ayers. Far Eastern Ceramics at the V&A. 91.
  • Beth McKillop. Korean Art and Design. London: V&A, 1992. Plate 29.
  • Figgess, Sir John. "Korean art in the United Kingdom. Part 1: the collections of London and Oxford".Korean Culture, vol.6, no.2. p. 9, plate 8.
  • Nick Pearce. "The Samsung Gallery of Korean Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum." Arts of Asia 22.6, 1992. p.128, fig.9.
  • B.C. Rhee. Masterpieces of Korean Art, Yi Dynasty volume, plate 372.
  • Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
  • National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Daejeon: National Research Institue of Cultural Heritage, 2013, p. 167.
Collection
Accession number
C.131-1913

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
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