Alternate Views

Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design

철화 백자 운룡무늬 호 (鐵畵白磁雲龍文壺)

1600s-1700s

Korea, Joseon dynasty

(1392-1910)

Porcelain with underglaze iron

Diameter of base: 13.7 cm (5 3/8 in.); Overall: 34.7 cm (13 11/16 in.)

Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 1986.69

Location

not on view

Description

The dragon is believed to control the weather, a critical heavenly agent in premodern East Asia where the economy was based on agriculture. It is believed that the dragon endows a rightful ruler with a blessing of the appropriate amount of rain, a key for successful harvest. Thus, harsh weather conditions were often interpreted as the decline of heaven’s favor over a state. This explains why most dragon jars like this were not allowed to be used outside the royal court. It is highly likely that this jar contained a bouquet of peonies, the flower that symbolizes the state’s peace and prosperity.

Provenance

?-1986

(London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, ?-1986, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)

1986-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1986-present

Citations

Yun, Yong-i. Arŭmdaun uri tojagi [Beautiful Korean Ceramics]. Sŏul: Hakkojae, 1996. Mentioned: p. 185

Cleveland Museum of Art, and Michael R. Cunningham. Masterworks of Asian Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art; New York: Thames and Hudson, 1998. Reproduced: p. 247

Itō, Ikutarō, and Judith G. Smith. Korean Ceramics: From the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000.

Pang, Pyŏng-sŏn. Sunbaek ŭro pijŏnaen Chosŏn ŭi maŭm, paekcha. Sŏul: Tol Pegae, 2002. Reproduced: p. 147

Miguk Pŭruk'ŭllin Pangmulgwan sojang Han'guk munhwajae = Korean art collection in the Brooklyn Museum, New York, U.S.A. Taejŏn Kwangyŏksi: Kungnip Munhwajae Yŏn'guso, 2006. Reporduced : p. 70, no. 88, Mention: p. 203

Kim, Kumja Paik. The Art of Korea: Highlights from the Collection of San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. [San Francisco]: Asian Art Museum, 2006. Reproduced: p. 134, no. 36

Kungnip Munhwajae Yŏn'guso (Korea), and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Miguk P'illadelp'ia Misulgwan sojang Han'guk munhwajae = Korean art collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, U.S.A. [Taejŏn Kwangyŏksi]: Kungnip Munhwajae Yŏn'guso, 2008. Reproduced: p. 115, no. 133, Mentioned: p. 259

Kang, Kyŏng-suk, and Yoon-jung Cho. Korean ceramics. Seoul: Korea Foundation, 2008. Reproduced: p. 171, fig. 35

Paekcha hangari: Chosŏn ŭi in kwa ye rŭl tamta = White porcelain jars: embracing the Joseon ideals and rituals. Sŏul: Kungnip Chungang Pangmulgwan, 2010. Mention: p.15, fig. 15

Exhibition history

Year in Review for 1986. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 4-March 15, 1987).

Korean Gallery 236 Rotation - January-July 2017. The Cleveland Museum of Art (January 13-July 10, 2017).

Korean Gallery 236 Rotation - July 2017-January 2018. The Cleveland Museum of Art (July 10, 2017-January 8, 2018).

Cite this page

{{cite web |title=Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design |url=https://clevelandart.org/art/1986.69 |author= |year=1600s-1700s |access-date=21 April 2019 |publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Contact us

Request a digital file from image services

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

The information about this object, including provenance information, is based on historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on objects is an ongoing process, but the information about this object may not reflect the most current information available to CMA. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

Is something not working on this page? Please email help.website@clevelandart.org.

You are here:

Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design

Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design

철화 백자 운룡무늬 호 (鐵畵白磁雲龍文壺)

Korea, Joseon dynasty

Location

Description

Contact us