Rare 18th-Century Korean Artifact Fetches Nearly $3 Million at Auction

A moon jar (Dal Hangari – 달 항아리 in Korean) sold at auction on March 18, 2025 in New York for the modest sum of $ 2.83 million (4.1 billion won). Inheritance of a dynasty which lasted 518 years, it is a particularly rare artifact which managed to survive the test of time.

Made with porcelain, the artifact is the result of a weld -free joint of two hemispherical halves and measures approximately 40 centimeters high. This therefore makes it a very rare object. Because as reminds The Korea Timesthere would only be twenty moon jars of this size.

“” “Many Korean ceramics are inspired by Chinese cultural references, but moon jar is unique to Korea”Explained Takaaki Murakami, head of the Japanese and Korean art department at Christie's with the South Korean daily.

Very rare moon grove

If the auction made it possible to find a buyer for one of the 20 moon jars that have survived since the Joseon dynasty, three of which are considered national treasures, it should be noted that the latter presents a particular characteristic which makes it particularly rare in the eyes of collectors.

Indeed, the container which was probably manufactured during the 18th century, is relatively wide. This therefore induces a particular technique to prevent the two hemispherical halves from breaking up when cooking moon jar.

This is surely what earned him to be sold almost a million more expensive than his initial estimate.

Today, the art of moon jar is not dead and we continue to produce it. Sometimes using traditional techniques, sometimes including more modern processes.

Source : The Korea Times