Bowl with molded and incised design of cranes and clouds

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    12th century
  • Geography

    Gangjin kilns, Jeollanam-do province, Korea
  • Material

    Stoneware with celadon glaze; lacquer repairs
  • Dimension

    H x W: 5.4 x 16.7 cm (2 1/8 x 6 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1917.299
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1917.299

Object Details

  • Description

    Bowl, conical, flaring; low solid foot. Gold lacquer repairs. (maki-e: sprinkled-design). Two silica spur marks on base, one on footrim.
    Clay: hard, grayish.
    Glaze: luminous gray-green celadon; lightly crackled.
    Decoration: incised in paste under glaze; floral medallion in bottom; two large flying cranes amidst clouds on walls.
  • Provenance

    To 1917
    Yamanaka & Company, to 1917 [1]
    From 1917 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1917 [2]
    From 1920
    The Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
    Notes:
    [1] Undated folder sheet note. See Original Pottery List, L. 2558, 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

    Korean Ceramics of the Koryo Dynasty (May 9, 1993 to August 7, 2011)
    Korean Art (May 9, 1993 to January 29, 1997)
    Japanese and Chinese Lacquer (September 22, 1982 to June 30, 1983)
    Korean Art (June 4, 1982 to September 23, 1982)
    Korean Art (July 15, 1981 to September 15, 1981)
    Japanese Lacquer (April 16, 1979 to October 8, 1980)
    Korean Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to October 13, 1978)
    Japanese and Korean Pottery, and Korean Bronze (May 2, 1923 to March 22, 1943)
  • 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, Jeollanam-do province, Korea
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Vessel
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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