🔵 Here’s a little BLUESDAY inspiration from our Asian art collection, currently on view in Infinite Blue.
Korean ceramic artists developed cobalt-decorated porcelains in the fifteenth century after admiring Chinese examples for years. Initially, cobalt had to be imported from points west, so the colorant was used sparingly and the wares were reserved for royalty. King Sejo (ruled 1453–68) was so keen to end Korea’s reliance on China for both ceramics and raw materials that he offered a cash reward to anyone who could locate a source of cobalt on the Korean peninsula. The resulting discoveries led to a proliferation of blue-and-whites, most of which were produced by court-sponsored kilns located in the area just west of modern-day Seoul. The pieces eventually became available to common citizens, although the finest examples were reserved for palaces.
Korean cobalt is a slightly different color from Chinese or Japanese, tending toward a grayer blue. The designs on Korean ceramics are also different from those of neighboring countries, with looser, more gestural brushwork. Korean tastes for blue-and-white ceramics evolved over time, essentially moving away from Chinese models and toward shapes and decorations that were more appropriate to local use. Unlike Japan and China, Korea never cultivated a foreign market for its porcelains.
Lidded Jar Made for the Unhyeon Palace, second half of the 19th century. Korea, Joseon dynasty. Porcelain with underglaze cobalt decoration. Brooklyn Museum