Joseon tea container with a treasure design, Blue and white porcelain

This small Joseon dynasty jar has a charming round shape and comes with a lid, making it resemble a tea caddy.

There are treasure motifs painted on all four sides. These are simplified versions of the auspicious eight-treasure motif that originated in Buddhism.

The pale blue and white color is also nice. At the time, blue and white pigments were very expensive, so it is said that the pale color was achieved by using only a small amount of pigment sparingly. The way the pigment has spread into the base gives it a simple, rustic look, which is actually quite appealing.

Although it is a small piece, it has a tasteful glaze that is typical of the Joseon Dynasty. The transparent glaze has crazing, which adds to the scenery.

There are no snags that have developed from cracks, and the condition is extremely good.

It is easy to imagine a set of utensils using Joseon porcelain for tea bowls, but using Joseon porcelain for tea containers would also broaden the range of utensil sets. It's a small teapot, so it can be used in a wide variety of situations and is sure to come in handy.

When it comes to white porcelain from the Joseon Dynasty that can be used as tea caddies, the standard is the white porcelain medicine jars from Bunwon, porcelain, the later Joseon period. Small Bunwon jars are relatively common on the market, but small pieces like this one that are suitable for use as tea caddies are not so often found.

Recommended for those who want to enjoy using small pieces from the Joseon Dynasty.

[Responsible for: Mao Otsuka]