Celadon Dish with Inlaid Fish Design and Inscription of "Gisa(己巳)" thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Celadon Dish with Inlaid Fish Design and Inscription of "Gisa(己巳)"

Vessel
1389 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This stoneware dish is covered with a celadon glaze over a black and white inlaid decoration of two fish among waves. It dates to the late Koryo period (AD 918-1392) as suggested by the decoration and the mark seen in the centre of the dish. The mark reads 'kisa', which corresponds to the cyclical date of AD 1269/1329.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCeladon Dish with Inlaid Fish Design and Inscription of "Gisa(己巳)" (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Thrown, inlaid and glazed stoneware
Brief description
Celadon dish with inlaid design
Physical description
The dish is decorated with white and black inlaid decoration and covered with a celadon glaze. On the centre of the interior are two characters 'kisa' (cyclical year), in black inlay, surrounded by an inlaid design of two fish amongst waves. The exterior carries four chrysanthmum motifs each within an oblong panel. There are areas of glaze degredation on the exterior and gritty adhesions on the interior.
Colour: Greyish green, white and black

This circular dish has the characters "己巳"(gisa) inlaid in black clay on its inside bottom. Surrounding the inscription are a double-line circle and designs of fishes and waves inlaid in white clay. The wave motifs continue up the inside wall. The outside wall is divided into six sections. A greenish-brown glaze is thinly applied to the body. The foot is low, and the dish was fired on sand spurs. The characteristics of concisely executed fish patterns, curving wave motifs and sand spurs suggest that the dish was made at a kiln in Sadang-ri, Gangjin, in the year 1389.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4cm
  • Mouth diameter: 14cm
  • Base diameter: 6.1cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
"己巳"
Translation
gisa
Credit line
Given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond
Production
(dated 1150-1400 in ELISE data)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This stoneware dish is covered with a celadon glaze over a black and white inlaid decoration of two fish among waves. It dates to the late Koryo period (AD 918-1392) as suggested by the decoration and the mark seen in the centre of the dish. The mark reads 'kisa', which corresponds to the cyclical date of AD 1269/1329.
Bibliographic references
  • Beth McKillop. Korean Art and Design. London: V&A, 1992. 7.
  • Bernard Rackham. Catalogue of the Le Blond collection of Corean pottery . London: V&A, 1918. 24.85.
  • National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Daejeon: National Research Institue of Cultural Heritage, 2013, p. 91.
Collection
Accession number
C.570-1918

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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