Vase
1150 - 1250 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Ceramics with a clear greenish-grey glaze known as celadon were made in Korea throughout the Koryo period (918-1392). Around 1150, a new technique for decorating this celadon-glazed pottery was developed. Koryo Potters set coloured materials into the clay surface before the wares were glazed. After firing, the pattern inlaid in this way remained clearly visible beneath the transparent glaze.
The potter who made this bottle has combined inlay in white and black to give a pattern of small figures standing amongst vines and bunches of grapes. Decorating a vessel in this way could be difficult as the potter had to ensure that the inlay materials contracted at the same rate as the body of the vessel when the piece was fired. If the different materials shrunk at different rates, the inlay might crack or fall out.
The potter who made this bottle has combined inlay in white and black to give a pattern of small figures standing amongst vines and bunches of grapes. Decorating a vessel in this way could be difficult as the potter had to ensure that the inlay materials contracted at the same rate as the body of the vessel when the piece was fired. If the different materials shrunk at different rates, the inlay might crack or fall out.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Thrown, inlaid and glazed Stoneware |
| Brief description | Cer, Korea, Koryo, celadon |
| Physical description | The vase has a globular body and is decorated in black and white inlay, with a repeating inlaid vine leaf scroll, with small figures amidst the leaves, grapes and tendrils. The top part of the body is missing and the glaze towards the foot has badly deteriorated. Colour: Greyish green, white and black |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Summary | Ceramics with a clear greenish-grey glaze known as celadon were made in Korea throughout the Koryo period (918-1392). Around 1150, a new technique for decorating this celadon-glazed pottery was developed. Koryo Potters set coloured materials into the clay surface before the wares were glazed. After firing, the pattern inlaid in this way remained clearly visible beneath the transparent glaze. The potter who made this bottle has combined inlay in white and black to give a pattern of small figures standing amongst vines and bunches of grapes. Decorating a vessel in this way could be difficult as the potter had to ensure that the inlay materials contracted at the same rate as the body of the vessel when the piece was fired. If the different materials shrunk at different rates, the inlay might crack or fall out. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.613-1920 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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