Turtle-shaped Bottle

This is a portable bottle in the shape of a soft-shelled turtle. It is made in order to carry water or liquor for trips or work in the fields. The bottle is made flat, while the bottom is flat and wide. The mouth for pouring out its contents was raised up to prevent water from easily spilling out when the bottle was swung back and forth. Most of these bottles are carried in a separate net made using paper string tied to a strip for easy transportation. Various materials including earthenware, porcelain and pottery were used to make this type of bottle. Earthenware bottles were used to contain soy sauce, while porcelain bottles were for liquor. In particular, earthenware bottles demonstrated excellent portability since they are solid and watertight with the capacity to adjust direct sunlight in summer and to keep contents fresh. The partially flat bottle can be traced back to the Unified Silla, and most flat cylindrical bottles in the shape of a soft-shelled turtle were made in the Goryeo and Joseon eras.