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Jar: O.3-1970

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Jar with wooden core, inlaid with mother of pearl. Choson Dynasty. This tall jar of maebyong shape has a wide straight neck and a broad shoulder, from which it narrows towards the flaring foot; it has a low footring. The upper part of the body is divided by horizontal lines into three zones, each decorated with a lotus scroll and the lower two also with birds in flight; the motifs are all cut from mother-of-pearl and inlaid into a dark brownish-red lacquer, which has turned almost black, flaked away in places, and lost part of the inlay.

Notes

History note: Unknown before donor

Legal notes

Given by Sir Harry Garner

Measurements and weight

Height: 35.8 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1970-04-30) by Garner, Harry, Sir

Dating

Choson Dynasty (1392 - 1910)
1600 - 1800

Note

The mother-of-pearl for such inlaid lacquer was cut from abalone shell. This decoration of the present jar is typical of Choson designs in its free and simple character. For similar designs see Hanguk Ui Mokch'il Kagu, 1981, pls.221, 222. It is rare to find a maebyong-shaped jar of lacquerware. Judging by its shape, which can be compared to that of white porcelain jars, this piece should be dated to the seventeenth or eighteenth century (see Hanguk Misul Suson, 1978, vol.3, pls.325 and 330).

Components of the work

Decoration composed of lacquer mother-of-pearl
Rim Diameter 10.2 cm
Foot Diameter 14 cm

Materials used in production

Wood (plant material)

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.3-1970
Primary reference Number: 16598

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Friday 16 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Jar" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/16598 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:06:14

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/16598 |title=Jar |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:06:14|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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