Celadon Flat Bottle with Inlaid Willow, Egret, Plum, and Bamboo Design

This celadon flat bottle with inlaid willow, egret, plum and bamboo design is a representative example combining the typical form of a flat bottle (pyeonbyeong) with a variety of decorative motifs; particularly notable is the goblin mask (gwimyeon) attached to the shoulder, which heightens the decorative effect. The broad body is divided into three sections – upper, middle and lower – with facing lotus-petal designs engraved on the upper shoulder and lower section, while the flat surface of the middle section bears a diamond-flower-shaped picture window within which a willow tree and several birds are depicted. On the rounded sides of the middle section are engraved, on one side, three stalks of bamboo, and on the other, a single branch of plum blossom in full bloom with its twigs forking in a Y shape. The goblin-mask decoration on the shoulder bares its teeth, holding a round ring in its mouth in a naturalistic manner that reveals outstanding carving skill. The glaze has a pale greyish tone and is densely filled with fine air bubbles. The glaze layer over the areas with white inlay shows wide crackling known as the "silver-flower" effect, while the black inlay is stable, firm and subdued. The foot is cut firmly and straight, the interior base is low, and the contact surface bears traces of fine sand spurs with black and white specks used as supports during firing.

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Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물