Accession Number
2004/1.296

Title
Nine-sided bottle

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
late 19th century

Medium & Support
stoneware with dark brown glaze

Dimensions
7 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. (19.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Bruce and Inta Hasenkamp and Museum purchase made possible by Elder and Mrs. Sang-Yong Nam

Label copy
This tall-necked bottle was thrown on a wheel and then shaved with a sharp metal or bamboo knife into facets. Faceting allows a less-than-skillful potter to remove some of the excess weight from a thickly potted vessel. In Korea, it became an aesthetic end in itself and is found in porcelains as well as village wares. Interestingly, in brown-glazed wares the number of facets is usually an odd number, while in porcelains it is most often an even number.
Maribeth Graybill, The Enduring Art of the Korean Potter, December 12, 2004-November 6, 2005

Physical Description
This brownish black bottle was made from porcelain clay coated in brownish-black glaze. The high-iron content of the glaze has given it a black shade. Sand has been removed from the clay, giving it a smooth texture. Coarse sand spurs were used during firing. The glaze is well fused and the surface is glossy. It remains intact and undamaged.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2014) p.212]

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bottle

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
bottles
brownish black
glazed ceramic ware (visual works)
octagonal
stoneware (pottery)