Celadon Ceramic Lotus Bowl Korean Goryeo Dynasty with Tomobako

Details

Description

An antique Korean ceramic bowl with celadon glaze from Goryeo Dynasty circa 12th-13th century during the artistic zenith of the … Read more An antique Korean ceramic bowl with celadon glaze from Goryeo Dynasty circa 12th-13th century during the artistic zenith of the Korean ceramic production. The stoneware bowl was potted delicately with hands with thin wall and display a slightly irregular shape viewing from different angles. It rises on a short ring base and is covered in celadon glaze with fine crackles. Elegant and minimalistic, the only ornament is the subtly incised overlapping lotus petals on the exterior wall, a common decorative motif during Goryeo period. There are some kiln marks in the well likely due to stacked firing. The base of the bowl is unglazed, and the exposed clay shows an iron rich red color. The celadon glaze shows a noticeable variation across the surface with the interior in a darker brown tone than the exterior. The bowl was made in Korea circa 13th century as a vernacular utility bowl and was collected and kept in Japan which was common. It comes with a Shifuku wrapping cloth an inscribed wood storage box that read "Yi Dynasty Goryeo Celadon Chawan". The Shikufu and box were of a later period by its Japanese collector.
The celadon ceramic from Goryeo dynasty has been cherished by collectors for their elegant form and sumptuous jade-color glaze, a result of cultural exchange and influence from Chinese Song ceramic.
For similar lotus bowl, see collection of National Museum of Korea, Deoksu531, Deoksu5052, Duk4092. The last one is illustrated on page 61 of "Earth Fire Soul The Masterpieces of Korean Ceramics".
Collection of Victoria and Albert Museum of Art and Design Le Blond Gift. Illustrated on page 43 of "Korean Art and Design" by Beth McKillop. See less