Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Melon-shaped Earthware (Maebyeong)

Vase
1200-1250 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This unglazed stoneware vase is divided into six lobes and has a straight mouth, swelling shoulders and slender base. It is of a typical ash-grey colour. Its shape shows a pronounced falling away from the shoulders, below a narrow neck and outward sloping mouth. This type of shape is known as maebyong.
This piece was donated to the museum in 1918 by the collector, Aubrey Le Blond (1869-1937), and his wife, Elizabeth. Travelling throughout the Far East during 1912-13, they acquired a large quantity of Korean ceramics, many of which they later donated to the V&A Museum.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMelon-shaped Earthware (Maebyeong) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Unglazed grey stoneware, thrown
Brief description
Vase, unglazed grey stoneware; Korea, Koryo dynasty, 1050-1350
Physical description
The vase is divided into six lobes, has a straight, dished mouth, swelling shoulders and slender base and is of a typical ash-grey colour. Its shape shows a pronounced falling away from the shoulders, below a narrow neck and outward sloping mouth.

With a small angular mouth, the body bulges at the shoulder and gradually tapers towards the base. The regular indentations down the height of the body create a form suggestive of a melon. The body has a greyish-blue tint. This piece of stoneware resembles prunus vases (maebyeong) produced in the early 13th century during the Goryeo Dynasty.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Diameter: 18.1cm
  • Mouth diameter: 5.1cm
  • Base diameter: 9.3cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond
Summary
This unglazed stoneware vase is divided into six lobes and has a straight mouth, swelling shoulders and slender base. It is of a typical ash-grey colour. Its shape shows a pronounced falling away from the shoulders, below a narrow neck and outward sloping mouth. This type of shape is known as maebyong.
This piece was donated to the museum in 1918 by the collector, Aubrey Le Blond (1869-1937), and his wife, Elizabeth. Travelling throughout the Far East during 1912-13, they acquired a large quantity of Korean ceramics, many of which they later donated to the V&A Museum.
Bibliographic references
  • McKillop, Beth, Korean art and design: the Samsung gallery of Korean art. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992, p.54, Plate 16.
  • National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Daejeon: National Research Institue of Cultural Heritage, 2013, p. 48.
Collection
Accession number
C.486-1918

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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