White Porcelain Cheonghwachilbonanchomun Bottle

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1058

Category

Craft

Designated year

1991

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.524041, 126.980350

Dating back to the late Joseon Period, this white porcelain bottle has height of 21.1 cm, mouth diameter of 3.6 cm, and base diameter of 7.8 cm. It has the shape of a gourd, since a long-necked vase is placed on top of an octagonal jar. This type of bottle first appeared in the late Joseon Period. The vase, whose graceful look is provided by the trimmed lower edges, goes well with the jar with the smooth curves in its upper part. The combination of the two creates harmony between natural curves and angles as well as a sense of originality. The designs are depicted in underglaze cobalt blue. The design of auspicious characters is skillfully drawn on both sides of the upper area. The orchids in full bloom are depicted in a relatively stable manner on three places in the lower area. The white glaze with blue tone is evenly applied across the surface. It has stable, curved heels. Since fragments of such gourd-shaped bottles have been found at the site of the kilns in the Geumsa-ri area of Gwangju, this bottle is presumed to date back to around the early half of the 18th century. It is an excellent piece of work displaying elegant shape and beautiful blue-colored designs.

Location