Ritual water sprinkler

Object Details

• Description

  Water ewer or kundika of bronze form; ovoidal; tapering spout broken; low foot; five clay spur-marks visible on footrim.

  Clay: hard, dense, dark brown where exposed.

  Glaze: brilliant grayish-green celadon; crackled.

  Decoration: inlaid with white under glaze: peony medallions on body, neck, and spout; keyfret bands around base and cap; lotus-petal band around spout rim.

• Provenance

  To 1909

  Yamanaka & Company, to 1909 [1]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1909 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] Undated folder sheet note. Also see Original Pottery List, L. 1934, 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

  Cranes and Clouds: The Korean Art of Ceramic Inlay (November 5, 2011 to January 3, 2016)

  Korean Ceramics (February 4, 1997 to August 7, 2011)

  Korean Ceramics of the Koryo Dynasty (May 9, 1993 to August 7, 2011)

  Korean Art (March 20, 1982 to 2 April 1984)

  Korean Art (June 4, 1982 to September 23, 1982)

  Korean Art (July 15, 1981 to September 15, 1981)

  Korean Art (March 20, 1980 to March 3, 1981)

  Korean Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to October 13, 1978)

  Korean Art (June 24, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

  Korean Art (June 19, 1969 to November 10, 1976)

  Korean Art (November 2, 1959 to November 22, 1971)

  Untitled Exhibition, Korean Art, 1958 (July 10, 1958 to April 15, 1959)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 16 (February 25, 1956 to July 11, 1958)

  Untitled Exhibition, The Japan Society, February 1914 (February 1914)

• Previous custodian or owner

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

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Gangjin or Buan kilns, Jeolla-do province, Korea

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1200s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Yamanaka and Co.

• Place

  Gangjin, Jeolla-do province, Buan kilns, Korea

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Buddhists, Koreans

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)