Cleveland Museum of Art

Water Ewer for Rituals (Kundika) with Incised Parrot Design

Date

1100s

Medium

stoneware with celadon glaze, incised and carved decoration

Culture

Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

Department

Korean Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This distinctively shaped celadon vessel is a kundika. With a spout on one side, this type of vessel is often used in Buddhist purification rituals. Unlike most existing examples that have an image of a willow tree, this work has a rare flying phoenix design incised on its surface. During the Goryeo period (918-1392), about 260 kilns operated in mainly Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces, meeting a soaring demand for high-end products like this example. Unlike most existing examples that have an image of a willow tree or lotus pond, this ewer bears an image of flying parrots delicately incised on its surface.

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