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AuctionsA Lifetime of Discovery IIILot 7

Lot 7

Goryeo Celadon Kundika Ritual Water Vessel, Korea

Estimate$2,500–$3,500

Offered in A Lifetime of Discovery III · Sunday, November 1, 2026, To be announced

A Korean celadon kundika, or jeongbyeong, attributed to the Goryeo dynasty. The vessel is formed with a rounded body, tall tapering neck with broad horizontal flange, elongated upper sprinkler tube, and a separate angled filling spout at the shoulder. This distinctive form was used in Buddhist ritual practice for holding and dispensing purified water.

Covered in a muted gray-green celadon glaze with extensive fine crackle, surface weathering, discoloration and areas of glaze loss. The form closely corresponds to documented Goryeo kundika preserved in major museum collections. Dating is based on form, material and glaze characteristics and has not been scientifically tested.

Size
12.5 in. high.
Provenance
Property from an important private collection, assembled by a dealer and collector over more than six decades.
Condition
Extensive age-related wear, glaze crackle and degradation, surface abrasions, mineral deposits, scattered glaze losses and areas of exposed body. Please refer to photographs.

Estimates are opinions of value, given as a guide.