{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O22605"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O22605/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN9668/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN9668/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EN9668","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN9667","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BF2308","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JL5918","copyright":"courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA4309","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O22605/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O22605","accessionNumber":"C.447-1920","objectType":"Brush pot (Piltong)","titles":[{"title":"Piltong","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"White porcelain, made from a mixture of clay and crushed rock fired at a very high temperature, was first produced in Korea in the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and came to dominate ceramic production in the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Kilns produced large objects for use at court as well as smaller domestic pieces for private customers. In about 1800 they began to produce elegant white openwork porcelain objects such as this brush pot. Painting and calligraphy were essential accomplishments of the Joseon gentleman, and this piece would have graced a scholar's study, serving its function but also delighting the eye.\r\n\r\nPlain white wares, with their connotations of purity and honesty, were particularly popular in a culture embedded in Confucian philosophy. The bluish tinge of the glaze of this pot is a typical feature of Korean porcelains and becomes all the more pronounced if the glaze is thickly applied. Korean art abounds in symbolism: the design of phoenixes on this piece was associated with longevity and good fortune.","physicalDescription":"White porcelain brush pot featuring openwork decoration of two phoenixes with outspread and upswept wings. They are surrounded by leaf and scroll-like foliage.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"}],"techniques":[{"text":"incised","id":"AAT53847"},{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"White porcelain, carved and incised","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Porcelain","id":"THES48907"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Writing","id":"THES261995"},{"text":"Calligraphy","id":"THES254199"}],"styles":[{"text":"Chosŏn","id":"AAT106675"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2011EN9668","2011EN9667","2006BF2308","2016JL5918","2017KA4309"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES404306"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Brush pot","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Korea","id":"x30965"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800 - 1899","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"10.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Mr. Alfred S. Hewlett, Esq. Register entry 6 April 1920.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Brush pot, porcelain with openwork and incised design of two phoenixes; Korea, Joseon, C19","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Wilkinson, Liz, Birds, Bats & Butterflies in Korean Art. London: Sun Tree Publishing, Singapore, 1996.","id":"AUTH404166"},"details":"10, 11","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Beth McKillop. <u>Korean Art and Design</u>. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992.","id":"AUTH316578"},"details":"p. 36","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. <u>Korean Art Collection Victoria and Albert Museum</u>. Republic of Korea, 2013.","id":"AUTH360734"},"details":"p. 200","free":"This brush holder has a cylindrical body and its sides combine both engravings and openwork designs to depict a delicate phoenix dramatically moving amidst the clouds. This excellent piece of work is covered in a clear bluish-white glaze, and the foot bears sand spur supports. It was produced at a kiln site in Bunwon-ri, Gwangju, in the early 19th century."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"Original description from accession register: <i>Brush pot, porcelain, with pierced design, covered with a pale blue glaze. Corea; 18th century. Cylindrical with a pierced design representing two phoenixes.</i>","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"2. Scholarly objects and self-cultivation\r\n\t\tJoseon dynasty (1392–1910)\r\n\t\tBrush rest and inkstone made by Im Yi-nam in 1991 \r\n\t\tIn a traditional Korean house, the sarangbang was the master’s study room where his possessions  were carefully curated, reflecting his tastes and  scholarly pursuits. Nature was important to the seonbi (Neo-Confucian virtuous scholars). This water  dropper, yeonjeok, shaped like Mount Geumgang,  was used to wet an inkstone, byeoru, when grinding an inkstick. The brush pot, piltong, is decorated  with a phoenix, a representation of longevity and  good fortune, while the openwork pipe rest, dambaetdae, contains portrayals of lotus flowers, a  Joseon symbol of the honourable scholar. [86]\r\n\t\tWhite porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue and copper red, and white porcelain\t\r\n\t\tWater dropper given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond\r\n\t\tBrush rest and inkstone purchase supported by V&A Members\r\n\t\tMuseum nos. C.98-1937, C.447-1920, C.343-1912, FE.35:1 & 2-1991","date":{"text":"19/01/2021","earliest":"2021-01-19","latest":"2021-01-19"}}],"partNumbers":["C.447-1920"],"accessionNumberNum":"447","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1920,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"RF number","id":"THES57673"},"number":"RP 2666/20"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-12","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-03","availableToBook":false}}