Accession Number
2004/1.224

Title
Bowl with incised floral pattern on interior bottom and sides

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
late 11th century -early 12th century

Medium & Support
stoneware with celadon glaze

Dimensions
2 11/16 x 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 in. (6.8 x 18.3 x 18.3 cm)

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

Subject matter
During the nearly five centuries of the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), celadon constituted the main type of ceramics produced on the Korean peninsula. This exquisite ware typically appears gray-green in hue. The color of Goryeo celadon owes much to the raw materials—specifically, the presence of iron in the clay and of iron oxide, manganese oxide, and quartz particles in the glaze—as well as to the firing conditions inside the kiln. Temperatures were commonly around, or below, 1150ºC, and the level of oxygen within the kiln was dramatically reduced at some stage of the firing; this is known as a reducing, rather than an oxidizing, atmosphere. Goryeo celadon ranges from a plain, undecorated type to objects with incised, carved, mold-impressed, or inlaid designs, and to vessels embellished with colorful compounds like iron oxide (black or brown) and copper oxide (red), and also with gold.

Physical Description

A circle is incised on the wide inner base of this bowl; the base is decorated with a chrysanthemum floret and is surrounded by lotus scrolls on the wall. There is a crack on the inner base which formed during firing, but the overall state of sintering is fine. There are six refractory spur marks on the foot. Part of the mouth had been broken off and restored.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2014) p.95]

The celadon bowl is close in shape to a perfect hemisphere, and its rim is turned very slightly outward. There is a peony design on the wall and bottom. The color is olive grey. It has a small concave foot.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bowl

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Chrysanthemum (genus)
bowl
bowls (vessels)
celadon (glaze)
ceramic (material)
ceramics
incising
peony
stoneware (pottery)