Cinerary urn with impressed decoration

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    late 7th century
  • Geography

    Korea
  • Material

    Unglazed stoneware with kiln gloss
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 11.5 x 13.2 x 13.2 cm (4 1/2 x 5 3/16 x 5 3/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1991.87a-b
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1991.87a-b

Object Details

  • Description

    Jar with short, squat body resting on small applied foot with everted rim, high, squared shoulder and short, straight rim. Lid with flattened "jewel" knob on high, domed center and flattened edges extending over neck of jar; hollowed out into a groove on its underside to accommodate the bowl's mouth.
    Clay: Dark gray stoneware. Applied foot uneven and gashed and dented. Hairline crack in lid. Bloating visible in interior of jar.
    Glaze: Remnants of kiln gloss on cover and upper body of bowl. Most of the naturally-formed glaze has worn away, probably as a result of burial.
    Decoration: On lid, incised horizontal lines separate bands of motifs: two bands of stamped "U" shapes with central dots frame a band of dotted "U"-shaped stamps. On jar, incised pairs of horizontal lines define bands of decoration: two bands of plain "U" shapes alternate with a band of chrysanthemum flowers, the lower "U" band ending slightly below widest part of body, with lower body undecorated.
  • Provenance

    From 1947-1950 to 1991
    Mr. Rolf R. Jacoby (died 1989) and Mrs. Maureen R. Jacoby (died 2002), Centreville, MD and Washington, DC, acquired by Rolf R. Jacoby in Korea between 1947-1950 [1]
    From 1991
    Freer Gallery of Art, given by Mrs. Maureen R. Jacoby in 1991 [2]
    Notes:
    [1] "This object, along with the others given with it, was acquired by Rolf Jacoby, the donor's late husband, in Korea between 1947 and 1950, while he served as a diplomat" (according to a note by Kate Theimer, November 28, 1995, in the object record).
    [2] See note 1.
  • 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)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Mr. Rolf R. Jacoby and Mrs. Maureen R. Jacoby
    Mrs. Maureen R. Jacoby (1927– 2002)
  • Origin

    Korea
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mrs. Maureen R. Jacoby in memory of Rolf Jacoby
  • Type

    Container
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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