Wine Cup with inlayed Chrysanthemum

Cup

Grey-green wine cup with inlayed chrysanthemum-decoration in white and black. Cupper-red painting in the under-glaze. Celadon glaze. 

Object ID
Korea_018

Age
Late 12th century (Koryō Dynasty)

Material
Celadon ceramic

Color
grey-green

Height
6.7 cm

Height (standfoot)
2 cm

Diameter
7 cm

Diameter (standfoot)
3.8 cm

Condition
Very Good

Price
on request

Description

The wine cup consists of grey-green stoneware. It has a cup and a pedestal. The cup is shaped in eight rounded petals. The petals are each decorated with a chrysanthemum and two small branches above and below the flower. The inlayed chrysanthemum-decor has white leaves and copper-red flower-stamps, the branches are black. The cupper-red color is very special and catches the eye:  In the 12th/13th century skilled potters enabled the production of fine ceramics that allowed a decoration with copper pigments on the underglaze. This technique was an additional decoration element that was only used for luxurious celadon ceramic. [1]
The inside of the cup is grey-green without patterns. All around the cup is glazed in grey-green and shows craquelées. The standring is oxidized, the bottom bears traces of three burning supports. The chrysanthemum is a symbol for duration and longevity. (HV) 

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[1] Choi, Kun (2005): Deckeldose mit kupferroten Chrysanthemen. In: Handbuch der koreanischen Kunst. Steinzeug und Seladon. Ernst Wasmuth Verlag. Tübingen. 254-255