Accession Number
2004/1.240A&B

Title
Cosmetic Box with inlaid peony (?) design: 6-lobed shape to lip top

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
late 12th century

Medium & Support
stoneware with inlaid decoration under celadon glaze

Dimensions
1 1/8 x 3 3/16 x 3 3/16 in. (2.8 x 8 x 8 cm);7/8 x 2 9/16 x 2 9/16 in. (2.2 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm)

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

Label copy
Cosmetic boxes and oil bottles were indispensable furnishings for the Goryeo aristocrat’s dressing table. The standard shape for a cosmetic box is flat and round. The creator of this example has introduced some variety to the type by shaping the cover into six lobes that are further emphasized by inlaid scalloped borders in white and black slip. A white peony blossom, a very feminine motif, fills the center.

Subject matter
A celadon lidded bowl with the top of the lid decorated with a peony spary design inside a hexafoil outline inlaid with black and white slips.

Physical Description

This is a celadon lidded bowl with the top of the lid decorated with a peony spray design inside a hexafoil outline inlaid with black and white slips. The foot was made by removing clay from the underside of the base and retains traces of quartzite spurs in three places. The glaze was slightly darkened on the upper part with faint gloss. The glaze is poorly fused on the base of the body, leaving practically no sheen. The piece is of high value, however, for the glimpse it offers of Goryeo’s refined yet splendid inlaid celadon ware, thanks to its decorative design that depicts a peony in full bloom, inlaid with white clay.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2014) p.118]
 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bowl

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Paeonia (genus)
bowls (vessels)
celadon (glaze)
ceramic (material)
inlay (process)
stoneware (pottery)