Jar with lid

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The elegance of this jar and its lid exemplifies the aesthetic of undecorated white porcelain that was popular in 15th–16th century Joseon. In its balanced proportions and subtle design features on the lid with a bud-shaped knob, this porcelain reflects the refined sensibilities associated with the new ruling ideology of Neo-Confucianism of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Porcelain was adopted as imperial ware in the 15th century and, in the 1460s, the royal court formed and managed a group of kilns called bunwon, which produced porcelain for court use. These pure white vessels were used as special tableware and also as ceremonial and even burial wares. This type of jar was used to store food or alcohol.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art