Celadon Prunus Vase with Incised Lotus Design

Goryeo Period (12th Century)

This vessel exemplifies the maebyeong form distinctive to Goryeo ceramics: a small, angular mouth; a boldly swelling shoulder; and a body that descends in a graceful S-curve, tapering steadily to the base. The decoration is incised in a beveled, oblique technique, with four large, fully opened lotus blossoms and leaves rendered in bold relief across the body. The shoulder is encircled by a band of ruyi-head motifs, an unusual feature that lends the piece a distinctive character. A thin, pale greenish-blue celadon glaze is applied across the entire surface, though discoloration is apparent on the lower body. A work of exceptional refinement that embodies the sculptural beauty of Goryeo celadon at its zenith, this maebyeong is presumed to have been produced at the Yucheon-ri kilns in Buan during the latter half of the twelfth century. It is thought to have served as a vessel for wine or similar liquids; the cover is no longer extant.