Buncheong Basin-shaped Memorial Tablet with Inlaid Fish Design and Inscription of "the Fifth Jeongtong Year"

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.577

Category

Craft

Era

조선 세종 22년(1440)

Designated year

1974

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울 용산구 이태원로55길 60-16, 삼성미술관 리움 (한남동)

Coordinates

37.536528, 126.996187

Buncheong pottery is a type of ceramic ware that was produced for about two hundred years from early Joseon to the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. It derives from decadent celadons of late Goryeo. This bowl measures 9.4㎝ in height, 35.8㎝ in mouth diameter and 13㎝ in bottom diameter. The mouth is slightly turned upward at the rim. At the bottom, inside the bowl, there is a round circle enclosing a floral design inlaid with white clay. The area around the circle is divided naturally by three floral stems. Between the stems are visible inlaid images of fish swimming toward the same direction. Both the outline and scale of the fish are inlaid with white clay, while the eyes appear black. The glaze used is bluish green in hue. This buncheong bowl is a grave good, used in lieu of a grave tablet inscribed with biographical information about the deceased, usually buried next to a tomb. The bowl bears an inscription near the mouth rim, indicating that it was made in 1440 (the 22nd year of King Sejong’s reign). The availability of the date information increases the historical significance of this item.

Location