The buncheong flat bottle with sgraffito fish design () is a Korean Buncheong ware produced during the early Joseon dynasty in the 15th century. Designated as National Treasures of South Korea No. 178th on July 9, 1974, this artifact is currently housed in the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. Measuring 22.6 cm in height, 4.5 cm in rim diameter, and 8.7 cm in base diameter, the bottle exemplifies the distinct aesthetic transition from Goryeo ware toward the robust, unpretentious artistic expressions unique to early Joseon folk crafts.
Characteristics The defining structural feature of this vessel is its flattened body, created by striking both the front and back sides to make them nearly flat, accompanied by a small mouth and a low foot ring. The technique applied involves coating the dark grayish-blue clay body with a thick layer of white slip, then utilizing sgraffito (carving through white slip to expose the dark body) and incising methods to delineate dynamic motifs. The contrast between the brilliant white slip background and the dark grey-blue body creates a striking visual impact.
Iconography The front and back surfaces vividly portray swimming fish engraved with swift, concise, and lively lines that convey a strong sense of spontaneous movement and rustic charm. The side panels are partitioned into distinct sections filled with four-petaled peony designs and plantain leaves, revealing the dark body beneath through carved-away backgrounds. Finished with a pale bluish, translucent glaze, the base retains traces of coarse sand supports used during the kiln-firing process.
See also Korean pottery and porcelain Buncheong
References
External links
Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Museum, Gimhae, South Korea Categories of Korean Ceramics