Cat? Tiger?
JAR, blue-and-white porcelain with tiger and magpie design Joseon dynasty, second half of the 18th century Kiln/ Gwangju official kiln (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection) Photo：六田知弘
On a night with a full moon hanging above a chain of mountains in the distance, a lone tiger prowls slowly on the edge of a cliff. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the blue and white fur and long tail that give the tiger a cat-like look. Wearing a peculiar smile, the face is quite endearing, and the figure is full of character. On the rear side, another tiger curled up under a tree is looking up at a magpie perched on a branch. On the Korean Peninsula, tigers were revered as sacred beasts and magpies were bearers of glad tidings. The two were favorite motifs of good fortune. This jar is a fine specimen of blue-white celadon made at a kiln that produced ceramics for the royal household in the 18th century.
| Items | Details |
|---|---|
| The Power of Osaka | The Power of Art |
| Storage Facilities | The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka |
| Category | High resolution |
