Page 28 - Korean Buncheong Ceramics, Samsung Museum Collection (great book)

As a result, many pieces of buncheong ware, including bowls, dishes, and jars, bear the
names of government offices inscribed on their surfaces. The office name Jangheung is stamped
on the exterior of a fifteenth-century bowl (cat. 5), but just as often the characters are placed
in the center of the base. Since, as mentioned above, Jangheunggo was the name of the office
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in charge of supplying various items, including buncheong ware, to other government bureaus, it is
not surprising that the highest number of vessels among extant buncheong ware with inscriptions
bear the name of this office. Other office names found on buncheong ware include Gonganbu,
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Gyeongseungbu, Innyeongbu, Deoknyeongbu, Insubu (see fig. 1.6), Naejasi, Naeseom (see cat. 6),
and Yebinisi. Because certain government bureaus, such as Gonganbu (1400–1420), Gyeongseungbu
(1402–18), Innyeongbu (1400–1421), and Deoknyeongbu (1455–57), operated for only a short period
of time, when their names appear inscribed on buncheong ware they provide scholars with valuable
clues to periods of production and correlations to quality; decorative techniques, motifs, and
composition; and production methods.
A variety of techniques was employed to inscribe office names on the vessels: stamping,
engraving, inlay, or writing with iron pigment. Among buncheong ware with inscribed government
office names, some examples also include the name of the place where they were made. A
small fifteenth-century dish is splendidly embellished with motifs over the entire surface (cat. 7)
and inscribed with Jangheunggojipyong on the exterior. In the center, the dish displays an inlaid

Figure 1.6 Detail of bowl with decoration of
chrysanthemums and inscription (Insubu). Korean,
Joseon dynasty (1392–1910); mid-15th century.
Buncheong with stamped design, H. 3 3 ⁄8 in. (8.6 cm),
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Diam. of rim 7 ⁄4 in. (18.4 cm), Diam. of foot 2 ⁄8 in.
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(6.6 cm). Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul
Catalogue 6 Dish with decoration of chrysanthemums and inscription (Naeseom). Korean, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910);
5
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mid-15th century. Buncheong with stamped design, H. 1 ⁄2 in. (3.7 cm), Diam. of rim 6 ⁄8 in. (16.8 cm),
Diam. of foot 2 3 ⁄8 in. (6.1 cm). Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul
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