Cinerary urn

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    early 8th century
  • Geography

    Korea
  • Material

    Unglazed stoneware
  • Dimension

    H x W x D (assembled): 19.7 × 19.6 × 16.5 cm (7 3/4 × 7 11/16 × 6 1/2 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1916.422a-b
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1916.422a-b

Object Details

  • Description

    Covered jar with "fern-frond" handle; high foot slightly curved out and ridged at bottom; doomed cover with nipple-shaped knob; repaired.
    Clay: dark gray, thinly potted, fine-grained stoneware.
    Unglazed; earth deposits.
    Decoration: stamp impressed bands of circles, paired lozenges, other small abstract motifs covering body and cover.
  • Label

    The densely applied and varied stamped designs are characteristic of later Unified Silla ceramics, especially burial urns, but the single horn-shaped handle is a vestige of an older ceramic shape.
  • Provenance

    To 1916
    Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1916 [1]
    From 1916 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company, New York in 1916 [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. 2479, Freer Galley of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
    [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

    Korean Ceramics (February 4, 1997 to August 7, 2011)
    Korean Ceramics of the Koryo Dynasty (May 9, 1993 to August 7, 2011)
    Korean Art (December 17, 1984 to June 23, 1986)
    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)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    Korea
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Vessel
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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