Lot 383
Estimate: £700 - £900
Auction: 08 November 2024 from 10:00 GMT
청자 상감 유병
crafted in a compressed globular form, with short waisted neck with a wide flared mouth, features beautifully decorated semi-circular floral medallions in sanggam-inlaid iron oxide and white slip that encircle the shoulder
7.5cm wide
Private collection, London
Smaller bottles, such as this example, were typically used to store perfumed oils. Bottles of this shape have been in use since the Unified Silla period (676–935) and became more refined during the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). By the mid-twelfth century, Goryeo potters and patrons began to articulate native tastes more distinctly. The decorative technique known as sanggam (상감) refers to an inlay method unique to Korean potters during the Goryeo dynasty, a technique rarely seen in Chinese ceramics. This process involved incising designs into the clay, filling the incisions with slip, and then covering the piece with a translucent celadon glaze before final firing. Flourishing in the 12th century, this inlay technique is celebrated for its precision and elegance. Comparable examples with nuances of form and detail from the 12th - 13th century could be found in the collection of the Princeton University Art Museum, object no. y1966-54 and in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession no.19.39.17