Lyon & Turnbull
31 October 2024
This November's auction of Fine Asian Works of Art includes an impressive Private Collection of Korean Ceramics from London. The collection features fine examples ranging from the 12th to the 19th Century.
Discover more about the pieces to be offered from the collection, below.
LOT 385 | KOREAN BUNCHEONG STONEWARE BOTTLE WITH IRON OXIDE PEONY PATTERN | JOSEON DYNASTY, 15TH-16TH CENTURY | £7,000 - £9,000 + fees
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.
LOT 390 | KOREAN CELADON-GLAZED INCISED 'PARROTS' BOWL | GORYEO DYNASTY, 12TH-13TH CENTURY | £3,000 - £5,000 + fees
As an auspicious pattern signifying harmony, a parrot design was widely adopted in the earliest days of Korean celadon from the Chinese Yue ware, and particularly popular between the twelfth and early-thirteenth century. The pattern commonly features a pair of parrots.
A comparable example is in the British Museum, museum no. 1973,0726.393, one in the Cleveland Museum of Art, museum no. 1924.136., and the other in the University of Michigan Museum of Art, accession no. 1965/2.69; Also see examples in the open market, one sold at Christie's New York, 21 July 2016, lot 34, and the other at Sotheby's New York, 30 Sep 2020, lot 1070.
LOT 389 | KOREAN BLUE-GLAZED WINE BOTTLE | JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY | £2,000 - £3,000 + fees
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
LOT 387 | KOREAN BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN JAR | JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY | £2,000 - £3,000 + fees
This porcelain jar is decorated with underglaze blue designs showcasing various auspicious symbols, including peonies, tied scrolls, and intertwined circles with flora-like ribbons. These motifs symbolise wealth and prosperity, intended to bring good fortune to its owner. Such jars were typically found in women’s quarters and were used to store cooking sauces, combining functionality with decorative beauty.
Similar pieces were sold by Fukuoka Yumekai Auction, 30 September 2023, lot. 594 and Bukowski Auction, 11−13 June 2024, lot. 1180
£700 - £900 + fees
GORYEO DYNASTY, 12TH-13TH CENTURY
£500 - £700 + fees
JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
£1,000 - £1,500 + fees
JOSEON DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
£1,500 - £2,000 + fees
JOSEON DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY