May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012

Jar with Dragon Design

Jar with Dragon Design

백자 청화 운룡무늬 호 (白磁靑畵雲龍文壺)

1700s

Porcelain with underglaze blue

Diameter of base: 14.7 cm (5 13/16 in.); Overall: 39.5 cm (15 9/16 in.)

Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 1986.85

Location

Did you know?

A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in pre-modern East Asia, thus the image of dragons was used exclusively for the king's paraphernalia.

Description

A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in premodern East Asia. In underglaze cobalt blue, a dragon on this jar is depicted flying through clouds to catch a flaming, wish-granting pearl called a cintamani. In the royal court, the shorter type of dragon jar was used to hold wine, the tall type, such as this one, was for holding a bouquet of flowers.

See also
Collection: 
Korean Art
Department: 
Korean Art
Type of artwork: 
Ceramic

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