They are round but not always the same shape.
Their white is not always the same white.
From their simple round form and pure white color,
The mysterious, complicated, and delicate beauty of the aesthetic emerges.
~Kim Whan Ki, Korean artist, from the poem “Jar,” 1963
Korean Moon Jar, 18th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The iconic art form of the Moon Jar embodies the minimalism at the heart of traditional Korean culture.
Moon Jars were first made in the late 17th century, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897).
Produced in the royal kilns, called Bunwon, near Seoul, they were used as vases or storage jars in the royal palaces and houses of the elite class.
Now there are only 30 Joseon Dynasty Moon Jars left in the world, in private collections and major Art Museums.
In March 2023, a Joseon Dynasty Moon Jar sold at auction in London for $4.5 million, which was more than double the estimate.
Joseon era Moon Jar sold for $4.5M in London. Christies Images Limited 2023
No two Moon Jars are the same, each is a unique expression of the same archetypal form. And none is perfectly spherical, because above all they are the work of artists' hands.
Moon Jars demonstrate, perhaps more than other art form, the impossibility of complete symmetry and unblemished finish in human-created works.
A simple form reiterated over centuries, each Moon Jar embodies the heart, experiences and skill that the artist brings to its creation.
Hanok (Korean traditional house) interior with Moon Jar. Image: Z_Lab
It was Korean artist Kim Whan Ki (1913–1974) who is said to have first coined the term 'moon jar', 'dal hangari' in Korean, which so poetically describes the art form.
In the early 20th century, Moon Jars became a source of inspiration for Korean artists and a symbol of national pride.
They are now nothing less than iconic, a symbol of Korean culture and the highlight of any collection of Korean art.
Kwon Dae Sup exhibition 2018. Image: Axel Vervoordt Gallery
A large Moon Jar is shaped in two halves, since in one piece it would be too big for the potter's wheel. The top half and the bottom half are made separately and then joined together by the artist.
The completed work often shows the shape discrepancies between the two halves and a visible seam around the middle, these are part of the enduring charm of the Moon Jar.
I was studying painting when I came across a white porcelain moon jar from the Joseon Dynasty at an antique shop in Seoul. I was enthralled by its graceful beauty, it was love at first sight, that jar, so simple at first glance. It left me with so many different impressions, I decided right there and then to become a potter instead of a painter. ~Kwon Dae Sup, Korean ceramic artist
Kwon Dae Sup Korean White Porcelain Moon Jar, 2022. Image: Artsy
Although it is a plain porcelain jar with no decorative elements whatsoever, it will seem different every time you look at it, depending on the circumstances. It will look quite different when you feel good and when you feel gloomy, when the weather is sunny, rainy, or cloudy. ~Kwon Dae Sup
In recent times, the Moon Jar has become widely appreciated and highly valued within Korea and across the world.
In 2019, Moon Jars made their debut in global popular culture when a Kwon Dae Sup Moon Jar was the subject of a Tweet by Kpop star Kim Nam Joon, better known as RM, of the world famous group BTS.
Kpop star RM of BTS with a Moon Jar by Kwon Dae Sup. Image: Koreaboo.com
The love of plain white moon jars in our times has its roots in the appreciation of surviving Joseon-dynasty examples ... through the gentle presence of plain white ceramic moon jars that – like the moon itself – bring comfort and pleasure to those who take time to look closely. ~Murakami Takaaki, Korean Art specialist at Christie's Auction House
Korean master ceramic artist Lee Dong Shik. Still from 'Making a Moon Jar'
You can view the magic of a Moon Jar being created in these short films (each approx. 15 minutes long):
- Making a Moon Jar - Short film about artist Lee Dong Shik
- Moon Jar: The Art of Imperfection - Short film about artist Yang Gu
See Seoul Lane's selection of Moon Jars here