Accession Number
2004/1.221

Title
Shallow flat-bottomed bowl with molded floral designs

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
12th to 13th century

Medium & Support
stoneware with celadon glaze

Dimensions
1 15/16 x 6 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. (4.8 x 17 x 17 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Bruce and Inta Hasenkamp and Museum purchase made possible by Elder and Mrs. Sang-Yong Nam

Subject matter
Initially, Goryeo potters learned much of the technical expertise from the celadon traditions of Song-dynasty (960–1279) China, particularly of its southern coast. A Song envoy, Xu Jing (1091–1153), who visited the Goryeo capital, Gaeseong, in 1123, noted the resemblance of Goryeo ceramics to the celadons of China's Yue and Ru kilns. We see in early Goryeo examples a conscious emulation of certain stylistic features of Chinese wares—such as the shapes of bottles and bowls, and standard decorative motifs including lotuses, peonies, flying parrots, and scenes of waterfowl by the pond. 
By the mid-twelfth century, Goryeo potters and patrons turned to articulating native tastes. This coincided with the consolidation of major celadon industries near the southwestern coast of the peninsula, in Jeolla Province—the Buan and Gangjin regions especially. The latter remains, today, the center of modern celadon production and of revivals of Goryeo traditions. The culmination of Goryeo celadon can be seen in inlaid (sanggam) celadon, a rarity in China. The delicate technique of sanggam involves etching the desired motifs on the dry clay body and filling in the carved space with black and/or white slip, after which the translucent glaze is applied and the vessel fired. The best of Goryeo inlaid celadon is breathtaking in its splendid presentation of clean form, vibrant design, and subtle yet alluring color combination of white, black, and green.

Physical Description

The inner base and walls of this celadon dish are mold-impressed with a peony and peony scrolls, respectively. The low foot retains traces of quartzite supports in three places. The glaze is poorly fused, showing traces of its running, while partial oxidization has given the dish a yellow-green hue in parts.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2014) p.114]

The rim of this celadon saucer is outward flared. Fine crackles are present throughout the surface of the saucer, coated with a dark bluish green glaze. It has glazed short foot with 3 spur marks and is molded peony design on wall and bottom. The exterior glaze color change due to over heating, fired in sagger that was not tightly closed.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bowl

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Paeonia (genus)
bowl
celadon (glaze)
ceramic (material)
ceramics
dishes (object genre)
peony