Rare Korean Silla Stoneware Footed Vase w/ Horses

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 31, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-10-31 10:00:00 2019-10-31 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-4581
Our Halloween Day auction features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  East Asia, Korea, Silla Kingdom, ca. 5th to 6th century CE. Wow! A stunning, rare example of a high-fired grey stoneware vase of a style known as a "kobae" for its openwork tall conical foot. The body of the vase expands rapidly into a near-spherical body, a wide neck, and a flaring mouth with a slight rim. Incised around the center of the body are drawings of horses, repeated as if running around and around it; above the horses are stamped petaled flowers, wave lines, concentric circles, and linear forms. Around the neck are three hanging clay links, each with a dangling charm of a petaled flower at its end. This example is remarkably well preserved! Size: 7.4" W x 12.85" H (18.8 cm x 32.6 cm)
  
  Aside from Chinese stoneware, Korean stoneware from this time period is the oldest known high-fired ware in the world - to make it, Korean artisans had to generate kiln temperatures greater than 1000 C! The characteristic grey color of this vessel and others like it is caused by the reduction of oxygen in the kiln's inner chamber. Vessels like this one have been found in high status tombs, containing offerings. Indeed, some fascinating offerings have been excavated from Silla period tombs - like soybean paste, red pepper paste, kimchi, and fermented fish sauce. This one probably held a liquid of some sort - perhaps wine. Many of the vessels followed standardized forms, with rarer ones - like this one - featuring depictions of human or animal figures. Some scholars believe that they represent mythical guardians, such as the Heavenly Flying Horse found in the tomb bearing the same name. The horses drawn here also reference the culture of the Silla elites, who took great pride in their horse riding and in the connection the animals drew to the people of the steppes.
  
  For a similar example, see the covered dish with horse decoration found at Wolseong-ro Tomb no. GO-11-1, at the Gyeongju National Museum, Korea.
  
  Provenance: private William Stockton collection, Colorado, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #150572

  Condition

  Intact, with well preserved motifs and rich deposits on interior and exterior. Even the clay links are intact! Small drill hole on underside for TL.
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