JAR, white porcelain 白磁 壺はくじ つぼ

Description

Many large jars that represent white porcelain of the Joseon dynasty have slightly uneven, warped bodies, reflecting the natural taste of the time. That feature, however, actually makes the works more expressive and rich in character. The glaze on this work was richly applied, producing a beautiful milky white color having a subdued tone and texture. Such large jars, also called a dalhangari or a full moon jar, have been regarded as the quintessence of Korean white porcelain and thus have been treasured by the people of Korea. Japanese writer Shiga Naoya had presented this jar to the former head priest of Todaiji Temple Kamitsukasa Kaiun (1906–75). In 1995 it was broken into pieces by a burglar but, thanks to the conservation technology, the jar revived in the same form as it was before the incident. It is known as the finest example among the other Joseon large white porcelain jars.