JAR, blue-and-white porcelain with tiger and magpie design

Date1 Joseon dynasty
Date2 Second half of the 18th century
Kiln Gwangju official kiln
Height (cm) 44.1
Maximum Diameter (cm) 34.2
Weight (g) 8,240
Collection The ATAKA Collection
Credit Line The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection), photograph by 〓(Please credit the name of the photographer which is indicated at the bottom left of each image)
Accession No. 00139
Description After the official kiln settled in its final location, Bunwon-ri (1752-1883) in Gyeonggi-do, pictorial motifs in the style of hanging scrolls, which leaves ample white space like this example, was favored. This jar has a tall upright mouth and the shoulder is encircled with a band of ruyi patterns distinctive of Bunwon-ri style. A border line runs around the lower part of the body, with rugged mountain range in the distance and a cat-like tiger strolling on the rocks in the foreground. On the opposite side, another crouching tiger looks up at a magpie perched on a bare tree. Tigers were actually inhabiting in the Korean Peninsula and they were worshipped as a sacred animal. The people probably believed that a drawing of a tiger with a magpie, which was thought to deliver good news, would further enhance good omen.

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