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Celadon Melon-Shaped Bottle

Published: 20 Dec. 2015, 18:28

With a height of 22.8 centimeters (8.98 inches) and mouth and foot rim diameter of 8.8 centimeters each, this exquisite celadon bottle was excavated at the tomb of King Injong (who reigned between 1122 and 1146) of Goryeo located in Jangdan County, Gyeonggi, along with a book dated 1146.

The bottle consists of an upright melon-shaped body, a fairly long neck with the flaring mouth shaped like a six-lobed flower and a rather tall foot shaped like a pleated skirt.

The entire body is evenly and lightly coated with light jade green glaze that made the Goryeo celadon ware so widely admired.

Noteworthy is the fact that, in connection with its production site, shards of the same type of celadon ware have been discovered at the Sadang-ri Kiln Nos. 7 and 8 in Gangjin, South Jeolla, although similar works have been excavated at some Goryeo tombs as well as some Cizhou Ware sites and Jingdezhen kilns in China.

Produced in the early 12th century when Goryeo reached the zenith in its celadon art, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful melon-shaped celadon vessel discovered so far with its graceful, charming body nicely coated with attractive jade green glaze.

Name: Celadon Melon-Shaped Bottle

Period: Middle Goryeo Period

Location: Yongsan District, Seoul

Status: National Treasure No. 94

*The photos and text for National Treasure are provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration. For more
information, call (042) 481-4650 or visit www.cha.go.kr.