Bowl with molded design of peony

Object Details

• Description

  Bowl, broad, ovoidal, with notched rim; six notches; low foot with three spur marks underneath.

  Clay: hard, fine, with clear bell tone.

  Glaze: soft, luminous gray-green celadon.

  Decoration: molded in paste under glaze: peony blossom in bottom, stem extending toward rim, foliage filling sides. Single incised line below rim.

• Label

  The original description of this bowl as Juko celadon by Yamanaka and Company, who sold it to Freer in 1900, is indicative of the vagueness of the use of the term in Meiji-period (1868-1912) Japan, when fascination with Western culture temporarily obscured much traditional lore of the tea ceremony. At the same time, the bowl was correctly identified as being Korean of the Koryo dynasty. Apparently the term Juko celadon was applied to any imported celadon of cursory workmanship, regardless of the country of origin.

• Provenance

  To 1900

  Yamanaka & Company, to 1900 [1]

  From 1900 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1900 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Undated folder sheet note. See Original Pottery List, L. 673, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. The majority of Charles Lang Freer’s purchases from Yamanaka & Company were made at its New York branch. Yamanaka & Company maintained branch offices, at various times, in Boston, Chicago, London, Peking, Shanghai, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. During the summer, the company also maintained seasonal locations in Newport, Bar Harbor, and Atlantic City.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Rediscovering Korea’s Past (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Studies in Connoisseurship 1923-1983 (September 23, 1983 to March 1, 1984)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Gangjin kilns, Sadang-ri group, or Buan kilns, Yucheon-ri group, Jeolla-do province, Korea

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 14: Rediscovering Korea's Past

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1200s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Yamanaka and Co.

• Place

  Jeolla-do province, Gangjin kilns, Buan kilns, Yucheon-ri group, Sadang-ri group,, Korea

• Topic

  Goryeo period (918 - 1392), Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Peony, Green glaze, Stoneware, Korean Art, Ceramics

• Culture

  Koreans

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes