Grand Scale Buncheong Vase Set with Carved Peony Motif and Refined Openwork Design

“Where light breathes through carved clay, and every bloom is shaped by patience.”

This extraordinary set of two grand-scale Buncheong vases—Maebyeong and Jubyeong—offers a masterful blend of Korea’s most intricate ceramic techniques: relief carving (bakji) and openwork piercing (tugak). These techniques are not merely decorative; they transform the vases into sculptural presences that carry both light and meaning.

Each piece is first coated with white slip, then meticulously carved by hand to reveal the earthy tone of the Buncheong clay beneath. The surface blossoms with peonies—Korean symbols of prosperity, beauty, and honour—rendered in high relief with generous curves and rich texture. Iron-red accents, achieved through fire-reactive slip, lend vitality and contrast to each bloom.

What sets these vases apart is the refined openwork—a demanding process where parts of the clay body are pierced through before firing. As the clay shrinks in the kiln, the open voids risk warping or collapse. Preserving their structure intact requires exquisite timing and refined craftsmanship. The reward is luminous: light filters through the cut-out florals, casting dancing shadows that evolve with the passing day.

Unlike the serene translucency of celadon, Buncheong ware embraces a more grounded beauty—warm, tactile, and emotionally resonant. Its softly muted palette and matte textures invite a quieter, more personal appreciation, offering comfort through earthiness and intimacy through imperfection.

Together, the Maebyeong and Jubyeong forms—one broad-shouldered, the other gracefully tapered—offer balance and symbolism. Whether positioned as centrepieces, nestled within alcoves, or displayed under gentle light, these vases quietly elevate the room they occupy.

Measuring approximately 42 cm in height, each vase commands attention with elegance rather than grandeur. Their tactile surfaces invite not only visual admiration but also a deeper, more intimate connection—one that grows with time.

Due to their entirely handmade nature, slight variations in glaze tone, form, or carving detail may occur—each piece a truly individual expression of the artist’s hand.

Dimensions

• Mae Byung
  Height- 44 cm (17.32 inch)
  Diameter- 24 cm (9.45 inch)
• Ju Byung
  Height- 42.5 cm (16.73 inch)
  Diameter- 21 cm (8.27 inch)

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