Buncheong Barrel-shaped Vessel with Scroll Design in Underglaze Iron

A jang-gun is a vessel used to hold water, alcohol, soy sauce, or urine; smaller ones were used for water or alcohol, while larger ones served as containers for urine. This vessel, 18.7 cm in height, 5.6 cm in mouth diameter, and 29.5 cm in length, is a piece of buncheong ware, a grey stoneware coated with white slip that originated from celadon during the declining late Goryeo period and continued to be made from the early Joseon period until the Japanese invasions of 1592. The mouth is attached slightly flared at the middle of the body, and an oval foot is attached on the opposite side. Because the foot is set to one side, the vessel was designed so that it could also stand on its side. White slip was applied over the entire surface using a brush. Over this, a freely abbreviated scroll (vine) design was painted using an iron-oxide pigment, and the character 十 (ten) was painted on the round body at the side. The thickly applied white slip and the scroll design, freely rendered over it with varying tonal intensity, are characteristic of Joseon-period buncheong ware, and this piece displays these features to full effect. The free and bold effect of abbreviation, together with the gwiyal technique - applying white slip with a brush so that the brush marks remain visible - make this one of the representative works that fully express the distinctive character of buncheong ware.

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Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물