Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Vase

1050 - 1150 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The loop on the long neck of this plain celadon bottle reflects the close relationship between metalwork and ceramic vessels in Koryo Korea. Metalwork vessels often had covers that were attached by a cord threaded through loops. Ceramics imitated this feature, although the loop was unlikely to have a practical use. The incised decoration on this celadon bottle includes clouds and lotus flowers, both popular designs found frequently on Koryo ceramics. While the bottle was buried in a tomb, its glaze reacted with its surroundings and consequently some areas have discoloured and degraded.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Thrown, with parts attached, glazed stoneware
Brief description
Vase, stoneware with crackled 'celadon' glaze, Koryô period, ca. 1050-1150, Korea
Physical description
Pear-shaped vase with a long neck and slightly flared mouth. A small loop attached to the neck is for threading a cord. The vase is decorated with incised decoration and covered with w crackled celadon glaze. A band of overlapping cloud heads around the shoulder, three lotus sprays on the body and a band of lotus petals near the foot. Now only part of the decoration is discernible as the glaze on the lower body has badly degraded. The uneven base is partly glazed with sand marks.

Colour: Greyish green and brownish
Dimensions
  • Height: 33cm
  • Diameter: 14.6cm
Styles
Gallery label
Glazed stoneware vases and bowl Korea, Koryo dynasty, (33) 1050-1150; (34) 1100-50; (35) 1100-1200 Museum nos. C.526, 540, 525-1918. Given by Aubrey Le Blond(2009)
Credit line
Given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond
Summary
The loop on the long neck of this plain celadon bottle reflects the close relationship between metalwork and ceramic vessels in Koryo Korea. Metalwork vessels often had covers that were attached by a cord threaded through loops. Ceramics imitated this feature, although the loop was unlikely to have a practical use. The incised decoration on this celadon bottle includes clouds and lotus flowers, both popular designs found frequently on Koryo ceramics. While the bottle was buried in a tomb, its glaze reacted with its surroundings and consequently some areas have discoloured and degraded.
Bibliographic references
  • Bernard Rackham.
  • Catalogue of the Le Blond collection of Corean Pottery.
  • London: V&A,
  • 1918.
  • 8.41.
Collection
Accession number
C.526-1918

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2000
Record URL
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