A BLUE AND WHITE VASE

Details

A BLUE AND WHITE VASE
YI DYNASTY (FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY)

The large vase of high-shouldered ovoid form with tall upright rim painted in underglaze blue with four stands of plants above a continuous circling line, a large branch of fruiting peaches on one side and a large stalk of plantain leaves on the opposite side, both flanked by arching autumn grasses, the neck encircled by a double ring in underglaze blue, the body white with glossy sheen and fine crackle overall, the recessed base also white and the foot unglazed- 10 3/4 in. (27.4 cm.) high, long body cracks restored, hairline cracks to neck

Lot Essay

A jar of similar form decorated in underglaze blue and white with autumn grasses above the line (27.7 cm. high) in the collection of the Ataka Museum, Osaka is illustrated in Masterpieces of Korean Art- Yi Ceramics, Byung-Chang Rhee, ed., pl. 193, with a note stating that blue and white wares of the "autumn grasses" type traditionally were believed to date from the early Yi Dynasty but were actually manufactured in the 17th Century and later, as excavations at the kilns of Toma-ri, Kumsa-ri and others indicate. It is thought that the "autumn grass" decoration, which can include other plant forms, was introduced around the time of King Injong (1623-1650).

Another jar similar to this example in the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo (30 cm. high) also with faint underglaze blue common to the "autumn grass" type but with little gloss and no crackle is illustrated in the same publication, plate 194 and plate 213, from the collection of the Ataka Collection, Osaka

Several other examples similar to the present jar are in the collection of the National Museum of Korea (Hoam Museum, Exhibition of Choson White Porcelain III: 18th Century blue and white porcelain, Introduction by Chung Yangmo, Seoul, 1987, pls. 3,4,10,28.)