Rare buncheong bottle among artifacts set for National Treasure designation

A buncheong flattened bottle with incised fish and line design / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

A boldly abstract buncheong ware bottle, once taken overseas and later returned to Korea, is among seven cultural artifacts newly proposed for National Treasure designation, officials said Thursday.

The Korea Heritage Service said it has given preliminary notice to designate the “Buncheong flattened bottle with incised fish and line design,” along with six other works, as state-designated cultural properties.

The buncheong bottle, believed to date to the 15th or 16th century in the Jeolla region, features a flattened body shaped on a potter’s wheel and refined by hand. White slip was applied before intricate patterns were carved using a sharp tool, creating expressive linear and fish motifs. The piece is noted for its abstract yet balanced composition across both faces and sides.

The artifact was taken abroad during the Japanese colonial period by a Japanese collector and was repatriated in 2018 after a Korean collector purchased and disclosed it, officials said. Its relatively well-preserved condition and distinctive artistry underpin its value, they said.

Among the other items, murals inside Daeungjeon Hall at Beomeo Temple in Busan depict a triad of Buddhas alongside associated figures, illustrating a unified spiritual worldview within a single space. The murals have retained their original form without repainting, offering insight into early 18th-century Buddhist painting traditions in the Yeongnam region.

The agency said it will collect public opinions for 30 days before final review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.