A SLIP-INLAID CELADON BOX AND COVER, GORYEO DYNASTY
Korea, 13th-14th century. Round, with flat top, inlaid on the cover in iron and white slip with a central floral decoration surrounded by a double circle and more floral patterns, the rim of the lid and box with geometric designs. Covered overall with a rich olive green glaze, save the rims which reveal the brown ware.


Provenance:
From a private estate in Normandy, France.

Condition
: Good condition with expected old wear and some firing irregularities, including pitting, glaze crackling and glaze gaps, as well as tiny nicks and light scratches.

Weight: 106.3 g
Dimensions: Diameter 7 cm


This inlay technique is called 'sanggam',
which was invented by Korean ceramic artists in the twelfth century. The design was incised into the clay body of the vessel and then filled with slip (diluted clay). The excess slip would have been removed before the piece was biscuit fired, then the bottle was covered with a translucent celadon glaze and fired again. The development of the sanggam inlay technique signifies the elegance and innovativeness of Goryeo ceramic production. No similar inlay technique was used by Chinese craftsmen at this time.


Celadons,
spoons, seals, and bronze mirrors were the most common burial objects in tombs during the Goryeo period (918-1392). Once used to contain colored powder, rouge, and eyebrow gel for makeup, this small container was one of the standard goods that furnished elites' tombs. Both women and men used the grain powder of rice or millet for whitening their skin, safflower extract for rouge, and plant ash or soot for eyebrow gel. Yet, natural-looking makeup seems to have been the most favorable one in Korea according to the travelogue by Xu Jing (1091-1153), the Chinese diplomat who visited Korea in 1123.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related slip-inlaid celadon-glazed box and cover, dated 13th-14th century, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1928.169. Compare a related slip-inlaid celadon-glazed box and cover, dated to the 13th century, 9 cm diameter, in the British Museum, registration number 1973,0726.399.a.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 October 2001, lot 285
Price: USD 3,760 or approx.
EUR 5,900
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small inlaid celadon stoneware cosmetic box, Koryo dynasty (13th century)
Expert remark: Compare the related form, celadon glaze, slip-inlaid decoration, and floral motif. Note the smaller size (4 cm).




高麗王朝内嵌青釉蓋盒

韓國，十三至十四世紀。圓盒，子母口，平頂，蓋上鑲嵌鐵片和白泥，中央飾花卉紋，周圍有雙圈及更多花卉圖案，蓋和盒的邊緣有幾何圖案。整體覆蓋著濃郁的青綠色釉，保留了暴露棕色胎體的邊緣。


來源：
法國諾曼底的一處私人莊園。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和麻點、釉面裂紋和釉面間隙，以及微小的刻痕和輕微的劃痕。

重量：106.3 克
尺寸：直徑 7 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十三至十四世紀内嵌青釉蓋盒，收藏於克里夫蘭藝術博物館，館藏編號1928.169。比較一件相近十三世紀内嵌青釉蓋盒，直徑9 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1973,0726.399.a。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2001年10月15日，lot 285
價格：USD 3,760（相當於今日
EUR 5,900
）
描述：高麗王朝十三世紀内嵌青釉蓋盒
專家評論：比較相近的外形、青釉、內嵌，以及花卉主題。請注意尺寸較小(4 厘米)。