-ce086715.jpg)
BOTTLE WITH FLYING CRANES AND CLOUDS
On this bottle, two cranes are flying among clouds. Cranes are a symbol of longevity in Daoism, a practice that emerged in China. Koreans adopted this symbolism in their art. The addition of clouds suggests the heavenly realm of enlightened sages.
This bottle has rounded shoulders that taper downward to create an exaggerated hourglass shape. The shape is called maebyeong, originally meiping in Chinese, which translates to “plum vase.” Bottles of this shape were most likely used to store wine and would have had a lid made of another material, such as wood.
Object Number
F1908.24
Date
13th century, Goryeo period
Place of Origin
Korea
Medium
Stoneware with white and black inlays under celadon glaze
Dimensions
H × Diam (overall): 30.4 × 18.5 cm
(11 15/16 × 7 5/16 in.)
Credit line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer