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Maebyong-shaped jar: C.57-1984

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 29 - Korean Gallery

Titles

Maebyong-shaped jar

Maker(s)

Pottery: Unknown (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Jar with loop handles and lotus design. Stoneware, thrown with applied lugs, incised and celadon-glazed. This maebyong-shaped jar has a short, straight mouth, and wide bulging shoulder from where the body tapers gradually downwards, to the slightly spreading foot. Four loop handles are attached on the shoulder. The low straight footring is cut with a knife. The piece would originally have had a cover which is now missing. A band of youi-heads is incised below the mouth, four large lotus sprays with fully-opened blooms on the body, and a simple key-fret border around the foot. The glaze is of a clear pale blue-green tone, lustrous and finely crackled overall. Before firing, the glaze has been wiped from the footring where traces remain of seven fire-clay spurs.

Notes

History note: Collection of Rev. Stanley T. Smith; sold at Sotheby's, London, 16th October 1951, Lot 28

Legal notes

Gompertz Gift

Measurements and weight

Height: 26.4 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Puan-gun ⪼ North Cholla province ⪼ Korea

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1984) by Gompertz, G. St. G. M., Mr and Mrs

Dating

12th Century
Koryo Dynasty
Circa 1150 CE - 1200 CE

Note

This type of jar with loop handles and originally with a saucer-shaped cover appears to have had special uses, for example, to contain the placenta from the birth of a prince or princess. It is likely to have been produced in kiln no.12 at Yuch'on-ri, Puan, in the second half of the twelfth century.

Components of the work

Glaze composed of celadon glaze
Foot Diameter 10.8 cm
Rim Diameter 8.6 cm
Decoration

Materials used in production

Stoneware

Techniques used in production

Throwing : Stoneware, thrown, with applied lugs, incised and celadon-glazed
Glazing (coating)

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.57-1984
Primary reference Number: 16164
Old object number: 40
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 11 August 2016 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Maebyong-shaped jar" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/16164 Accessed: 2024-11-05 13:57:09

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/16164 |title=Maebyong-shaped jar |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 13:57:09|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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