White porcelain wares with underglaze blue decoration started to be produced in Korea around the mid-fifteenth century in emulation of Chinese blue-and-white wares. Cobalt was initially imported from China, making these vessels expensive and fashionable among the ruling elite. Wine bottles such as this one acquired their recognizable silhouette of heavy lower body balanced by a tall slender neck from the second half of the 18th century. Initially executed by professional court painters of the Dohwaseo (Royal Bureau of Painting), the decorative themes evolved from literati to folk motifs rich in symbolism of long life and happiness.