A SET OF THREE BLUE AND WHITE INSCRIBED EPITAPH TILES, MYOJI, FOR THE OFFICIAL YI GONG-SOK AND HIS WIFE LADY YUN, JOSEON DYNASTY, DATED 1861
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve

Korea. The three epitaph tablets commemorate the life of Yi Gong-sok, Official at the Royal Secretariat, and his wife, the noble Lady Yun of Papyeong. The tablets summarize his career achievements and inform about his wife and children. The last tile with a poetic text emphasizing Confucian virtues such as filial piety, public service and scholarly refinement.

Inscriptions: Dated ‘468th year of Jeosong (corresponding to 1861)’ and written by the younger brother Don Yeung, Minister of Personnel. The narrow sides each numbered ‘No. 1 of 3, No. 2 of 3, No. 3 of 3’.

The first tile inscribed, ‘Tomb inscription for the joint grave of Yi Gong-suk, Official at the Royal Secretariat, and his wife, the noble Lady Yun of Papyeong’, further inscribed ‘He came from the royal Yi (李) clan as a descendant of Prince Hyo-ryeong. His personal name was Yi Mun-yeong, his courtesy name Hak-ro. His father, Yi Sang-du, was Magistrate of Yongsu and held the rank of Tongjeong. His grandfather, Yi Deok-yeong, was posthumously appointed Ijo-Panseo (Minister of Personnel). His great-grandfather, Yi Si-chae, was posthumously appointed Ijo-Champan (Vice Minister of Personnel). His mother was the Honorable Lady Seo, daughter of Seo In-su, a descendant of Chungsuk-Gong Seo Seom. The tablet also discloses his birthday ‘29 November in the year of Gengxu during the reign of King Jeongjo (corresponding to 1790)’.

The first and second tile include his educational background, ‘Passed the Saengwon examination in the year of Byeongja year under King Sunjo (corresponding to 1816)’ and enlists all his career achievements, ‘Official at the royal tomb, Deputy Ritual Official at Jongmyo Shrine, Officer in the State Tribunal, Director of Royal Tombs Administration, Superintendent of Royal Warehouses, Official in the Ministry of Public Works, Officer in the Merit Office, Officer in the Market Bureau, Officer in the Military Supplies Bureau, County Magistrate of Nampyeong, Governor of Goesan, Prefect of Yeonan, Judge in Gongju, Governor of Hongju, Director of Court Music, and Second Secretary of the Royal Secretariat’. The last lines of the second tablet inform about his death, ‘6 July in the year of Muo (corresponding to 1858)’, include the birth and death of his wife, the location of his tomb, ‘Location: Gwachon, Galhyeon, Orientation: Jap-Jwa, Position: below the grave of this father’, and mention his son Yi Gong-gyu, his daughter, and a daughter by a concubine.

The last tile inscribed with a poetic and commemorative text:

‘He embodied the essence of refined virtue and upright conduct.
His reputation was not merely literary—it resonated among the people.
His love remains in the hearts of the citizens.
Though his hair turned white like frost, he rose not through privilege but through merit.
Even in obscurity, his brilliance endured.
Ancient wisdom says: governance begins at home with filial piety and brotherly love.
Who among men surpassed him in these virtues?
Though he has passed, his honor lives on.
The sound of his jade pendants still echoes.
Surely, those who knew him will remember.’

Provenance: Spink & Son, London (label to back, no other evidence available). The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. An old paper to the back inscribed in Korean, ‘Late Li dynasty, tombstone 3, Jeongjong’, and with a succession of years in the late 1700s.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, the third tile with two small cracks to the left side and a small chip to the top right corner.

Weight: 5.3 kg
Dimensions: Size 67.5 x 26.6 cm, c. 23 x 19 cm (each tile)

All framed in a carved hardwood frame.

Epitaph tablets are stone or ceramic plaques that record details of the life of a deceased person. The information includes their achievements, personality and family relations. Many epitaph tablets were made in ceramics during Joseon period.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related set of thirty-four epitaph tablets, dated 1736, length 25.1 cm (each tablet), in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1998.486.1–.34. Compare a closely related set of fourteen epitaph tablets, dated c. 1849, 19 x 18 cm, in the British Museum, registration number 1997,0721.1-14.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 20 March 2019, lot 391
Price: USD 8,200 or approx. EUR 8,800 (for ten) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A set of ten blue and white epitaph plaques for the official Yoo Hanki, Joseon dynasty, dated by inscription to 1824
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and underglaze-blue inscription. Note the size (18.1 x 15.5 cm).