“Plum-Vase” – Maebyōng

Vase

Typical Korean “plum-vase” with a little swinging-out foot, S-shaped body, widened shoulder and narrow neck and mouth. Grey-green celadon glaze. Decorated with flower motifs, a cloud-headband around the base of the neck and a stylized meander-bordure around the foot-area.

Object ID
Korea_014

Age
12th century AD –
(Koryō Period)

Material
Ceramics

Color
grey

Height
16.5 cm

Height (neck)
1.5 cm

Diameter
(coming soon)

Diameter (neck)
3 cm

Condition
Very Good

Price
on request

Description

The shape of the bottle is typical Korean: It is a “plum-vase” – a vase in the shape of a plum – not used for flowers as possibly suggested rather more as a vessel for wine. It has an S-shaped body, wide shoulders and a little swinging-out foot-area. The mouth with the collar is set off from the depressed neck. Under the base are leftovers from three fire supports. The whole surface included the bottom is glazed in grey-green celadon. The bottle is decorated with elegant flower motifs, peony-branches lined up next to each other. The shoulders are wreathed by a headband with clouds and concentric circles. A stylized meander-bordure surrounds the foot.
The patterns are designed in a specific technique that was developed in Korea as “inlay-technic” (“Sanggam”). It comes from the traditions of the Silla-Period (668-925 AD) that used a predecessor technology: the stamping of signs or carving to the leather-hard clay. Using the “Sanggam”-technique firstly the motifs were carved and then filled up with kaolin-containing or black slip. Afterwards the surface was smoothed and overdrawn with glaze. The “Sanggam” was completely independent from Chinese techniques. It was a kind of celadon-ceramic with new motives and became more and more a symbol for a luxurious life. [1] The mostly nature-related motifs of the décor reflect a personal feeling that corresponds to Korean taste. [2] The decoration has a symbolic importance. The clouds are symbols of happiness, the peonies represent wealth and nobility. (HV)

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[1] Ströber, Eva (1995): Schulterflasche vom Typ Maebyōng. In: Schlombs, Adele (Hg.)/ Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln: Meisterwerke aus China, Korea und Japan. München/New York. 164
[2] Soontek, Choi-Bae (1984): Maebyōng. In: Seladon-Keramik der Koryō-Dynastie 918 – 1392. Bestandskatalog des Museums für Ostasiatische Kunst der Stadt Köln. Köln. 72-75