Cleveland Museum of Art

Jar with Dragon Design

Date

1700s

Medium

porcelain with underglaze blue

Culture

Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)

Department

Korean Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

As a mythical creature believed to make rain, the dragon served as a symbol of rulers in premodern East Asia. Here, a cobalt blue dragon is depicted flying through clouds to catch a flaming, wish-granting jewel called a cintamani . In the royal court, the shorter type of dragon jar held wine, while the tall type, like this one, held flowers. This porcelain once belonged to Robert W. Moore, who developed an interest in Korean art while serving in the US Army in South Korea during the 1950s and 1960s. Later, the CMA acquired this important work through an auction sale in 1986. A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in premodern East Asia; the image of dragons was used exclusively for the king's paraphernalia.

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