On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Mount Geumgang

Water Dropper (Yeonjeok)
1800 - 1899 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (maker)
Place of origin
Korea (made)

White porcelain water dropper, composed of a stylised mountain with rocks and ledges on which are temples and pavilions as well as figures and animals, painted in cobalt blue and copper red underglaze. At the summit is a temple, at the base are waves.

Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Porcelain
Writing
Calligraphy
Object type
Water dropper (Yeonjeok)
Titles
  • Mount Geumgang (generic title)
  • Yeonjeok (generic title)
Materials and techniques
White carved porcelain, painted in cobalt blue and copper red underglaze, whitish-blue glaze.
Porcelain
Underglazing
Painting
Brief description
Water dropper in the shape of Mt. Geumgang, porcelain with cobalt blue and copper red underglaze; Korea, Joseon, C19
Physical description
White porcelain water dropper, composed of a stylised mountain with rocks and ledges on which are temples and pavilions as well as figures and animals, painted in cobalt blue and copper red underglaze. At the summit is a temple, at the base are waves.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.4cm
  • Base at widest part diameter: 11.3cm
Content description
Original description from the accession register: Model of a hill wth shrines and temples, porcelain painted in underglaze brown and blue; Corean, 17th or 18th century. Roughly conical, composed of rocks and ledges on which are temples, shrines and people (?), as well as figures of lambs, birds and rabbits. On the top is a larger temple.
Style
Chosŏn
Gallery label
(19/01/2021)
2. Scholarly objects and self-cultivation
Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Brush rest and inkstone made by Im Yi-nam in 1991
In a traditional Korean house, the sarangbang was the master’s study room where his possessions were carefully curated, reflecting his tastes and scholarly pursuits. Nature was important to the seonbi (Neo-Confucian virtuous scholars). This water dropper, yeonjeok, shaped like Mount Geumgang, was used to wet an inkstone, byeoru, when grinding an inkstick. The brush pot, piltong, is decorated with a phoenix, a representation of longevity and good fortune, while the openwork pipe rest, dambaetdae, contains portrayals of lotus flowers, a Joseon symbol of the honourable scholar. [86]
White porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue and copper red, and white porcelain
Water dropper given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond
Brush rest and inkstone purchase supported by V&A Members
Museum nos. C.98-1937, C.447-1920, C.343-1912, FE.35:1 & 2-1991
Credit line
Purchased from Mr Aubrey Le Blond
Object history
Purchased from Mr Aubrey Le Blond. Register entry 26 May 1937.
Historical context
Purchase value for C.81-1937 through C102-1937, inclusive.
Place depicted
Mt. Geumgangsan
Bibliographic references
  • Beth McKillop. The Samsung Gallery of Korean Art at the V&A. London: Orientations 199212. 3811.
  • National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Korean Art Collection Victoria and Albert Museum. Republic of Korea, 2013. p. 197 This water dropper is carved with features of Mt. Geumgangsan including mountain, house, human, animal, and bird which are colorfully painted partly in underglaze cobalt blue and partly in underglaze copper red. The foot has no foot ring and bears refractory clay spur marks, and a whitish-blue glaze is used. This water dropper contains wishes for a utopia and was produced at a kiln site in Bunwon-ri, Gwangju, in the early 19th centruy.
Other number
RP 37/2467 - RF number
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
C.98-1937

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O22434/mount-geumgang-water-dropper-yeonjeok-unknown/
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