Jar, porcelain, decorated with an underglaze iron-brown painted dragon, Korea, 1600-1650.

The jar is painted in underglaze iron brown with a long, scaled dragon amongst stylised clouds chasing a flaming pearl. At the shoulder is a band of wavy lines, at the foot a cloud pattern. On the neck is a pattern of wavy lines.

The dynamically painted dragons and clouds that adorn the surface of this jar have been executed in underglaze iron brown. The manner of depiction of the clouds, the ruyi band, the dragon’s scales and its giraffe-shaped head is unique. The rim and shoulder are decorated with a scroll band and a lotus petal band, while the base features a band of simplified waves. Two protrusions on the rim indicate that the jar was originally covered with a lid. Staining is visible on the exterior, and the foot has sand spur marks. It is likely that the jar was made at a kiln in Sangnim-ri, Gwangju, in the early 17th century.

Purchased from Messrs. Kavanough & Co. (Seoul, Chosen, Korea), accessioned in 1912. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.

This porcelain jar is painted in underglaze iron brown, with a long, scaly dragon among stylised clouds chasing a flaming pearl. At the shoulder is a band of wavy lines; at the foot a cloud pattern. On the neck is a pattern of wavy lines. In Korea, porcelains in a nearly translucent glaze and fired at high temperatures (approximately 1300 degrees Celsius) began to be made in the 15th century. Underglaze iron oxide was also used for creating designs on celadons ('celadons' are stonewares with a light bluish-greenish glaze) during the Koryo dynasty (918-1392), but it became especially popular in the 17th century.

C.356-1912