Celadon Prunus Vase with Cloud and Dragon Design in Relief

This celadon prunus vase (maebyeong) with cloud and dragon design in relief is a typical maebyeong form produced in the mid-Goryeo period; not only is it large in size, but its dignified shape is in harmony with its elaborate and realistic decoration. Two pairs of dragons facing each other are densely arranged over the entire body, while small, similarly shaped billowing clouds are carved in low, thick incision on the flat shoulder area and in the empty space near the base. The design shows four dragons rising into the sky over a vast, wave-tossed sea while playing with magic jewels, surrounded by auspicious clouds that further heighten the mystical atmosphere. The glaze is crack-free, a clear pale greenish-blue, and relatively transparent, though fine air bubbles in the glaze layer make it slightly translucent, with a soft, subdued lustre. This vase is presumed to have been used in the royal court; the vigorous posture of the dragons, the fiercely surging waves, and the calm yet powerful billowing clouds are perfectly matched with the elegant form of the vessel and its pale green jade-coloured glaze, making it a fine example that well demonstrates the characteristics of Goryeo celadon at the height of its development.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물