JOSEON DYNASTY, 17 th/18 th CENTURY KOREAN WHITE – GLAZED MOON JAR

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JOSEON DYNASTY， 17TH/18TH CENTURY

the large oviform jar resting on a low straight foot echoed in shape by a short straight neck with a lipped mouth rim， covered all over apart from the foot ring in a smooth white glaze with fine crackles concentrated at the lower part of the body and at the mouth rim

37cm high
Provenance:

Acquired from William Clayton Fine Chinese Jade， Porcelain and Oriental Works of Art， with original receipt dated 28th August 1973.
Note:
Moon jars derive their name from their likeness to a full moon both in shape and colour. Produced the 17th till the mid-18th century， they were used for storing rice， soy sauce， alcohol and occasionally displaying flowers. Because of their sheer size， jars of this kind were made by throwing the top and bottom sections separately and joining them at the centre. In many cases these two sections differ slightly in size and thickness， creating an intriguing contour， as visible in the present jar.
With their simple and minimalistic shape， moon jars embody the principles of frugality and purity that were unique to Korean culture governed by Neo -Confucian ideals at that time. The asymmetry of the jar caused by warping on the wheel or slumping in the kiln was viewed not as a shortcoming but rather as nature taking its course.
There are very few samples of moon jars remaining in the world. One similar sample can be found in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum， Accession No C.398-1991.