KOREAN BLUE-GLAZED WINE BOTTLE
JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000
Auction: 08 November 2024 from 10:00 GMT
Description
백자 병
the bottle features a flared rim that transitions into a tall, spreading neck, complemented by a compressed pear-shaped body, the entire vessel completely covered in underglaze cobalt blue
Dimensions
24cm high
Provenance
Private collection, London; acquired from a private Japanese collection, Kyoto
Footnote
In the late Joseon period, a burgeoning economy stimulated increased porcelain production in commercial kilns. This bottle, featuring a round mouth, a long and slender neck, and a bulbous body, exemplifies one of the new vessel shapes that emerged in the nineteenth century. During this time, the use of underglaze cobalt blue became particularly prominent, with many vessels being entirely covered in this vibrant hue. The widespread popularity of cobalt blue wares reflected changing societal values, serving as symbols of status and sophistication among the elite. A similar piece, smaller in scale, was sold by Fukuoka Yumekai Auction, 27 July 2024, lot 50. Comparable bottle can be found in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, accession no. TL1986.56.1