Water Ewer for Rituals (Kundika) with Incised Parrot Design
Unknown Artist
1100s
Medium
stoneware with celadon glaze, incised and carved decoration
Dimensions
h. 35.3 cm · outer diameter 14 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of John L. Severance
Accession Number
1921.631
About this artwork
This distinctively shaped celadon vessel is a kundika. With a spout on one side, this type of vessel is often used in Buddhist purification rituals. Unlike most existing examples that have an image of a willow tree, this work has a rare flying phoenix design incised on its surface. During the Goryeo period (918-1392), about 260 kilns operated in mainly Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces, meeting a soaring demand for high-end products like this example.