Bowl with Cranes, Willow, and Lotus Plant Decoration

The second half of the 12th century in Korea marks a golden age for the production of ceramic stoneware vessels with grayish-green glazed surfaces called sanggam cheongja (called “celadon” in the West in reference to a character called Céladon in a 17th century French play). In this example of inlaid celadon, slip (liquid clay) paste in white and black was rubbed into incised designs before the entire vessel was covered with the celadon glaze and fired in the kiln. This form of decoration appears to be a Korean innovation. Inlaid ornament is largely stylized, and most often it depicts sprays of peony and other flower motifs and plant rosettes (see Smart Museum object number 1988.2a–b) but some designs present more pictorially complex garden views or, as here, river scenes featuring waterfowl among willow trees and reeds.