Rare Korean Folk Art Wood Kundika, Choson, 19th Century

We are offering this very rare Korean folk art item of a wood Kundika, or Buddhist ritual sprinkler, from Choson period of 19th Century. The elegant kundika bottle carved from a single wood block has a long neck which stops at a dish end where an inverted dish continues the rise to a small opening at the end of a cylindrical tube. Attached to the shoulder is a spout with a ribbed opening which serves as the water outlet. The entire wood surface of the main body is elaborately carved in high relief with an auspicious scene of tortoise, cranes, and deer among tree in a mountainous environment. The neck and spout is further incised with flying cranes among cloud motif. Early Koryo bronze or celadon Kundika with similar decoration in silver wire inlaid or slip inlaid are known. Wood Kundika with such an elaborate decoration is rare and we have not seen any one documented. The surface of this beautiful wood Buddhist vessel was originally covered with mineral pigments mostly worn off and is now covered with a warm patina. Except for a short crack at the lower section as photographed, this beautiful Korean wood Kundika is in excellent condition. This is a very rare Korean Buddhist art for common folks and will be an excellent addition to any serious collection of Korean art.
Size; height; 34.5cm