AN INLAID CELADON MAEBYONG

Details

AN INLAID CELADON MAEBYONG
koryo dynasty (12th century)

Of characteristic maebyong form with evenly proportioned, rounded shoulders rising from the tapered, cylindrical stem to the upright and slightly flared neck, inlaid in thick applications of slip with flying cranes and clouds, each of the cranes flying in a different direction and position, designed in an amusing and lively manner, some flying in a rather fanciful way with the legs flipped up behind the tails or flying straight up in a reverse swan-dive, and none of the clouds of exactly the same shape or size; the bodies of the cranes white slip and the slender legs, tail feathers, beaks and eyes black slip, the clouds entirely of white slip, also inlaid above the base with a band of key frets and below the neck with a wide collar of petals, both entirely of white slip, covered overall save the unglazed foot with a bluish-green celadon glaze with emerald blushes, especially on some of the clouds and cranes, and with sparse crackle and even lustre--13 5/8in. (34.6cm.) high

Lot Essay

For similar maebyong see Korai seiji e no izanai/An Introduction to Koryo Celadon (Osaka: Museum of Oriental Ceramics, 1992), pl. 63; Choi Shunu, Chungja (Celadon), Hanguk ui Mi (Korean beauty), vol. 4 (Seoul: Joong-ang Ilbosa, 1981), pl. 69, Choi Sunu, National Museum of Seoul, Korea, The World's Great Collections: Oriental Ceramics, vol. 2 (Tokyo, New York and San Francisco: Kodansha International, Ltd., 1982), pl. 18, René-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, gen. ed., 5000 Years of Korean Art (San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 1979), pl. XXVII; Korai meipin ten/Exhibition of Mei-ping Vase, Koryo Dynasty, Korea (Osaka: Museum of Oriental Ceramics, 1985), no. 10; G. St. G. M. Gompertz, Korean Celadon and Other Wares of the Koryo Period (London: Faber and Faber, 1963), no. 75; Center for the Study of Korean Arts, Gon Song Mun Hwa/Ceramics IV, Celadon, vol. 31 (Seoul: Center of the Study of Korean Arts, 1986), pl. 16, p. 18; Soontaek Choi-Bae, Seladon-Keramik der Koryo Dynastie 918-1392/Celadon Wares of the Koryo Period 918-1392 (Köln: Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, 1984), no. 17; Chosen koseki zufu (Illustrated record of Korean relics), vol. 8, (Tokyo: Chosen sotokufu zohan, 1928), nos. 3524, 3625, p. 1085

The cranes-among-clouds design is the most popular motif on Korean celadons. The crane is the Koryo symbol of immortality and the celadon ground represents the sky. The expressive and lively design and the full form of the body infuse this vase with a vitality that is typical of Korean ceramics. Shape and surface design are harmonized expertly.