Flattened Bottle

Bottle

Rounded flattened body, oval top view. Scratched patterns in sgrafittp technique: Fish decor in a double- framed medaillon and geometric shapes on the narrow sides.

Object ID
Korea_039

Age
16th century AD

Material
Ceramics

Color
grey-white

Height
21.5 cm

Height (standring)
1 cm

Length
18 cm

Width
(coming soon)

Diameter (standring)
10 cm

Condition
Very Good

Price
on request

Description

The flattened body of the bottle appears rounded from the front side and oval from the top view. There is a thick mouth and a standring.OIverall, the appearance derives from water bottles of leather which were carried by nomadic tribes of Eurasia. Different composition patterns are on the front and on the sides. The broad sides bear each motives of two different seized, designed and scratched fish. The fish in the double rounded medaillon are designed vertically, simply in four parts: head with open mouth, body, dorsal and caudal fin. The narrow sides have geometric shapes with formalized leaves, dashes and dots. [1] The surrounding on the shoulder is executed unevenly. The rectangular double border is interrupted. Also the lower part shows a kind of four stylized leaves. Regarded to the production process the carvings for the patterns are clearly visible. According to the sgraffito technique they were designed and then scratched into the white mud. Afterwards they were filled up with dark clay. Particularly on the shoulder are craquelures and traces of oxidation.
Fish are until now important representations in diverse religions and also in the folk art and popular art of muslims where they embody magical protective functions as apotropaic symbols. [2] (HV)

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[1] Chung Yang-mo (1979): Flask. Punch’ōng stoneware with incised and sgrafitto decoration. In: 5000 years of Korean Art. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Printed by Samhwa Printing Co., Ltd. Korea. 174
[2] Frembgen, Jürgen Wasim (2008): Kunstwelten der Muslime. In: Müller, Claudius im Auftrag des Staatlichen Museums für Völkerkunde München (Hg.): Weiter als der Horizont. Kunst der Welt. Ausstellungskatalog. Hirmer Verlag GmbH. München. 260