By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae
A white jar made during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) has been sold at the highest price for a porcelain or ceramics piece in Korean auction history.
Seoul Auction on June 26 said the bid for the Baekja Daeho, also called a "moon jar" and measuring 41 cm wide and 45.5 cm high, was sold for KRW 3.1 billion after bidding started at KRW 2.3 billion. The auction was held in Seoul's trendy district of Sinsa-dong.
Made late in the Joseon era, the jar is among just 20 surviving white porcelain pieces taller than 40 cm that were used almost exclusively for royal ceremonies. Several of them are designated national treasures by the government.
The porcelain piece sold in this auction was praised for its round and well-balanced shape, light milk-colored hue and neat surface.
Among Korean artworks, the most expensive is a painting by the late artist Kim Whan-ki (1913-74) that sold for KRW 8.52 billion in May last year.
The most expensive works of traditional Korean art are the Buddhist painting "Cheongryangsangwebultaeng" (청량산괘불탱, 淸凉山掛佛幀) at KRW 3.52 billion and the ink-wash painting "Twaeuisunsaengjinchukchub" (퇴우이선생진적첩, 退尤二先生眞蹟帖) at KRW 3.4 billion. On this illustrious list, the just-sold moon jar is now third.
xuaiy@korea.kr
