Gourd-shaped Celadon Ewer with Incised Lotus Design

Goryeo Period (12th Century)

This elegant ewer takes the form of two stacked globular sections — a larger below and a smaller above — evoking the shape of a bottle gourd. A straight, elongated spout and a handle are applied to either side of the slender body. Both the cover and its accompanying saucer stand are no longer extant. The decoration is executed in fine incised lines: fully opened lotus blossoms adorn the body, while cloud motifs are carved across the upper section. The glaze is a classic bisaek celadon — limpid, luminous, and bright in tone. The base is flat, with traces of quartz kiln supports on which the piece was fired. The beautifully composed, willowy form of this ewer is set off to great effect by the freely rendered lotus decoration, and the piece is presumed to have been produced at the Sadang-ri kilns in Gangjin during the twelfth century, at the apex of Goryeo celadon production.