Page 34 - Symbols_of_Identity_Korean_Ceramics_from the Chang Collection

his bowl with flared lip has press-molded designs of lo-
Ttus plants and a central swirl motif under celadon glaze.
The lip and outside surface of the bowl are left undecorated.
The vessel was fired on four clay pads, the scars of which can
be seen on the footrim and reveal the light gray body mate-
rial. Except for the firing scars on the footrim, the bowl was
completely coated in glaze. Gold lacquer has been used to
repair this vessel.

Early Goryeo celadon usually copied products from Chinese
12. kilns. This bowl took its design from contemporary wares
Bowl made in the Yaozhou kilns. Like the design of many Chi-
First half of 12th century, Goryeo nese bowls of this period, the lip was left undecorated. The
TL results: fired between 900 & 1,400 years ago lotus motif entered Korea from China with the introduction
Stoneware with impressed designs under celadon glaze and of Buddhism. Although originally associated with the Bud-
gold lacquer repair dhist religion, the lotus motif became popular by the Goryeo
H: 6.1 cm, W: 18.2 cm dynasty and decorated nonreligious wares as well. It became
a symbol of fertility because of its prominent seedpods.

At some point, probably during excavation, the bowl was broken
into five pieces and repaired with the traditional Japanese kintsugi
(gold joinery) technique, which employed gold lacquer. The bowl
was acquired by the collector in Japan during the 1960s or 70s.
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