What Kind of Jar Is It? Joseon 'Dalhangari' Sold for 3.4 Billion Won... Breaking Domestic Auction Record

Highly Rated for Its Mild Milky White Color
Baekjadaho Mainly Used in Royal Ceremonies

A Joseon Dynasty white porcelain moon jar, known as 'Dalhangari,' was sold at auction for 3.4 billion KRW. The moon jar is estimated to have been made in the early 18th century.

According to Seoul Auction on the 25th, the white porcelain moon jar was sold for 3.4 billion KRW at the 175th art auction held the previous day at the Gangnam Center in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This is the highest price ever recorded for a white porcelain moon jar auctioned domestically. The previous highest price for a white porcelain moon jar sold at auction in Korea was 3.1 billion KRW at a Seoul Auction event in June 2019.

Baekja Large Jar sold for 3.4 billion KRW at Seoul Auction.
[Image provided by Seoul Auction]

The white porcelain moon jar stands 47.5 cm tall and has a nearly perfect round shape. Its simple milky white color and other features were highly valued for their rarity.

Seoul Auction described this white porcelain moon jar as 'national treasure level,' stating, "White porcelain moon jars over 40 cm in height were mainly used in royal ceremonies." In fact, only three white porcelain moon jars over 40 cm in size have been designated as national treasures, and including those designated as treasures, there are only about 20 pieces known.

Recently, moon jars have attracted significant attention at auctions. In March, a moon jar made around the same period as this piece was sold for about 6 billion KRW at Christie's auction in New York, and in September, another similar moon jar was sold for approximately 4.7 billion KRW at Sotheby's auction in New York.

Meanwhile, besides the white porcelain moon jar, the auction also drew interest in other antiques such as ceramics like the 'Celadon Kirin-shaped Incense Burner' and 'White Porcelain Blue-and-White Blessing Bowl,' old maps like 'Jeolla Province Map Album' and 'Hankyung Jeondo,' and calligraphy by Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, including his 'letters.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.