Admire the refined elegance of the Goryeo dynasty's celadon bowl at #ClevelandMuseumofArt. Its incised designs symbolize nature's bounty and human virtue, showcasing the mastery of early porcelain artistry. How do you interpret the meanings behind those motifs?
#ArtAppreciation #KoreanCeramics #GoryeoDynasty
https://clevelandart.org/art/2020.182
The 14th-century Korean hanging scroll of Shakyamuni radiates luxury with intricate patterns and rich pigments. The serene Buddha, adorned in gold and vibrant colors, invokes deep devotion. What emotions does this artwork stir in you?
#ClevelandArt #BuddhistArt #GoryeoDynasty
https://clevelandart.org/art/1982.25
This conical bowl and the shallow and wide one (<a href="https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.183">CMA 2020.183</a>) are both hand-incised with decoration suggesting waves, clouds, or floral sprays. All of these motifs had auspicious meaning: waves and clouds bring rain that fertilizes the fields, and flowers and plants were often associated with the beauty of human virtues. The carved and combed designs were swiftly cut with a wooden tool into the unfired leather-hard body before glazing. Once the glaze was applied, it pooled in the incised areas rendering the design more visible.
Flattened-shaped jars like this one started to appear around the late 13th century. Each of the flattened sides is decorated with an image of a lotus flower pond, enclosed in a lobed panel. The protruding sides, on the other hand, depict an image of bamboo trees and plum blossoms. This particular example seems to have been produced in the late 14th century, when the overall quality of techniques involved in making celadon works sharply deteriorated. In contrast to translucent greenish blue celadon works of the 12th century, this flask has gray greenish glaze due to less refined clay. Furthermore, its rather roughly executed inlaid design shows a clear sign of decline in craftsmanship. Nevertheless, less attention to technical details gave way to a freer style pottery called <em>buncheong</em> in the succeeding centuries.
As early as the seventh century, the practice of drinking tea and wine became an important part of elite culture in Korea. Once used to store alcoholic beverages, this type of vase features a wide body followed by a sharply rounded shoulder, a short neck and a small opening. Most of the remaining examples no longer have a lid, but originally it may have had a lid that not only covered the opening, but also served as a cup.
Hidden Gems