Korean Pottery Funerary Urn Unified Silla

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A terracotta pottery funerary urn with lid from Korea Unified Silla Period, circa 9th century. The jar was in a … Read more A terracotta pottery funerary urn with lid from Korea Unified Silla Period, circa 9th century. The jar was in a classic globular form with raised shoulder. Although the surface was unglazed, the jar features decoration with the stamped floral pattern on the bands round shoulder and the base. The circumventing ridge that delineates the border of the fields with stamped motifs feature small notches. There are four cardinal ear loops on the shoulder and archaic character-like motifs were carved between them (they might be Pseudo-Sanskrit as an ornamentation). The lid of the jar was also decorated with stamped floral patterns and features a large pagoda-shape top knob. These characters reflect the influence of Buddhism on the society. The jar shows a green patina seeped into part of the surface, which may be due to long contact with the earth element under the ground.
In the eighth century during the Unified Silla period, the practice of cremation burials became popular. As a result, large urns were being used to contain the ashes. By the ninth century, vessels with various forms, materials, and designs were being produced specifically to serve as funerary urns. Some urns from that period, similar to the one on offer here, feature stamped designs on part or all of the surface. Some have pagoda-shaped knobs atop the lid or matching eyelets on the lid and body, so that the lid could be securely fastened to the body with cords.
For a similar urn but glazed see Accession Number Bongwan 6143 in the collection of National Museum of Korea.
Another similar covered jar, see Accession Number: 1997.34.17a, b in the collection of Metropolitan Musuem of Art in NYC. See less