Korean Ceramic Celadon Bowl with Slip Inlay Goryeo Dynasty

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A superb Korean celadon bowl with elaborate slip inlays circa 12th century from the Goryeo Dynasties (918 to 1392AD). Despite … Read more A superb Korean celadon bowl with elaborate slip inlays circa 12th century from the Goryeo Dynasties (918 to 1392AD). Despite inspired originally by the celadons from Song Dynasty in China, the development of celadon in Korean peninsula took its own course and reached the zenith in the 11-12th century during Goryeo dynasty. One singularly distinguishable characteristic was the masterful slip inlay techniques which was uniquely Korean and specifically Goryeo. The potter first cut out the design on the clay, then filled with white or black slip inlay before a surface glaze was applied for firing. This process created contrasting designs that range from rustic, intricate to elaborate, depending on the kilns, production period as well as the purpose of consumption. The masterpieces from the peak of the production radiate with a beauty of purity that was often compared to water and jade. The inlay work can be dazzling for its intricacy.
The bowl is of a robust form that fits beautifully in one's hand. It radiates a purity in its celadon glaze that is jade green with a subtle blue and grey hue. The interior of the bowl showcases design consisting of three bands: a thin outer ribbon with wavy inlays; a middle band with four cardinal cranes in black and white inlays among small cloud forms, and a wide inner bands with radiating array of bundles of lychees and pomegranates. The concentric arrangement of the motifs leads one's eye inward to the central mandilion on the bottom. Surrounded by auspicious fungus, it showcases a bundle of chrysanthemums. On the exterior, four chrysanthemum flower in double circles among scrolling cloud pattern were sandwiched between the upper and lower double-lined border. Four more blooms were placed in alternate cardinal space below. There is an overall fine crackles on the glaze and the base of the bowl retains three spur marks due to the placement in the kiln.
The superb quality and the beauty of the design of this bowl indicates it was made during the peak of the slip inlay celadon production in Goryeo dynasty when a perfect harmony was achieve in the form and decoration. From a Japanese collection, a wood storage box accompanies the bowl. It has three old paper label residues on the box identifying the bowl, the name and the age indicated as shown.
A slip inlay celadon bowl with nearly identical design is in the collection of Cincinnati Art Museum of no 1964.320 (see last photo). See less