Lot 385
Estimate: £7,000 - £9,000
Auction: 08 November 2024 from 10:00 GMT
분청사기 철화 모란무늬 병
the pear-shaped bottle raised on a ring foot with its body entirely covered in white slip adorned with a stylised peony leaves in iron oxide, bordered by incised lines that expose the greyish stoneware beneath
29cm high
Private collection, London; acquired from Steven's Art & Antiques, CA
This Buncheong bottle features a full body covered in white slip, decorated with a painterly motif of peony leaves in rich iron oxide pigment, a style that is closely tied to the kilns of sacred Mount Gyeryong, located near Hakbong-ri, west of Daejeon. The craftsmanship reflects a pivotal period in Korean history, particularly after the early Joseon Dynasty rulers shifted from Buddhism to Confucianism. This transition forced many Buddhist monks back into secular life, with some former monks from Gyeryong establishing kilns to create Buncheong pottery. Renowned for its fresh and spontaneous aesthetic, this bottle exemplifies the quick decoration methods used by artisans who frequently employed simple iron oxide designs against a cream-coloured backdrop. These wares were admired for their immediacy and natural charm, marking a unique moment in Korean ceramic art. Iron-painted Buncheong was produced for a short duration in Hakbong-ri, from the late 15th to the early 16th century. Following this period, the kilns shifted exclusively to porcelain production, making pieces like this Buncheong bottle highly sought after by collectors due to their rarity and historical importance. Pieces with similar motifs could be found in the collections of the National Museum of Korea, accession no. Bongwan 12457 and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession no. 2015.79.494. Comparable bottles were sold by Bonhams, 15 March 2017, lot 7042 and Auction Artbank, Korea, 16 December 2009, lot. 23