Celadon Prunus Vase with Grass, Insect, and Bird Design in Underglaze Iron

Iron-painted celadon (cheolhwa cheongja) is made by painting designs with an iron-oxide-bearing clay slip onto the celadon surface and then covering it with celadon glaze before firing; its forms and designs are known to closely resemble those of the Cizhou kilns of Northern Song China. The glaze was mostly fired in an oxidising atmosphere, often resulting in a yellowish-brown colour, and the designs are rendered with bold, thick lines that give a lively impression. This prunus vase (maebyeong) has a flat, flaring mouth, with the line from the rounded shoulder down the body running almost straight to the foot; since this form is regarded as characteristic of Chinese prunus vases, it is considered an early type not yet fully assimilated into the Goryeo style. The clay slip was applied somewhat thickly, so the painted areas stand out, and the blackish-brown colour is deep and lustrous. A single horizontal line encircles the shoulder, dividing the surface into an upper and a lower section. A band of stylised chrysanthemum scroll design runs around the narrow upper section, while the broad lower section bears a large design of a cut branch resembling a melon vine, together with a large bird, a pair of butterflies, and a bee. The glaze is pale yellowish but clear and transparent, without crackle. The foot has had its inner base pared down, and traces of coarse sand used as spacers during firing remain on the contact surface. As a representative example of iron-painted celadon of the Goryeo period, it is especially admired for its unconventional composition, bold brushwork, and the harmony between the greenish-brown glaze body and the blackish-brown design.

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Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물