Celadon Kundika with Inlaid Willow, Lotus, Reed, and Mandarin Duck Design

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.66

Category

Craft

Era

고려시대(12세기)

Designated year

1962

Location

성북구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 성북구 성북로 102-11 (성북동, 간송미술관)

Coordinates

37.589116, 127.018215

This celadon kundika of Goryeo (918-1392), which has height of 37 centimeters and base diameter of 8.9 centimeters, is a Buddhist sacrificial vessel used in a ritual to purify the offerer. This type of water sprinkler is known to have originated in India but was introduced to Goryeo via China, where Korean artisans in the medieval times produced some of the finest kundika bottles remaining today. As one of such masterpieces, this ritual bottle features an elegant body with the surface evenly coated with translucent jade-green glaze and inlaid with willow, reed, and lotus as well as a pair of mandarin ducks in white slip. The bottle also displays inlaid peony blossom designs on the opposite sides of a long neck, slender, octagonal spout rising above it, and another spout attached to the shoulder designed to be used to fill the bottle with water. The latter spout originally had a matching cover that is now missing. The bottle is highly praised among art historians for the creative inlaying technique used for surface decoration as well as the elegant body made with extremely fine-grained clay and clear jade-green glaze coating it.

Location