Koryo Celadon Inlaid Cloud‑Crane & Peony Large Jar with Beast‑Head Bosses,13th‑14th Century

拍品描述

Measurements:Overall height 25.5 cm / 10.04 inches,13th‑14th Century Koryo DynastyCondition & Provenance:The jar is fully intact without cracks, chips or restorations. Four beast‑head bosses are original and well‑preserved. All inlaid decorative patterns remain complete. The celadon glaze retains soft luster with only faint age‑related surface wear. The unglazed base shows natural burial soil patina and original kiln sandy foot features, free of modern grinding or artificial alteration. This artifact originates from an old East‑Asian ceramic collection in Hong Kong. It was acquired by a private East‑Asian art collector in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2025 and stored in temperature‑humidity‑controlled dark storage.Object Description:This large heavy‑bodied jar is a masterpiece of late Koryo inlaid celadon, one of the most celebrated monumental ceramic forms of medieval Korea. It has a short flared neck, broad full shoulders, rounded bulging belly tapering gently toward the bottom, and an unglazed sandy base, delivering a powerful well‑balanced silhouette. Four molded beast‑head bosses are evenly spaced around the shoulder with solemn archaic facial expressions. The whole vessel is covered with soft grey‑green celadon glaze and decorated with classic Koryo inlay technique. A band of ruyi cloud scrolls encircles the neck; a pearl‑bead border runs across the shoulder. The main body is densely inlaid with flying cranes drifting amid swirling clouds, interspersed with round medallions filled with inlaid peony sprays. A continuous band of upward lotus petals frames the lower portion near the base. Contrasting white and black inlaid inlays create rich layered visual effect with well‑organized dense composition. The coarse sandy base retains authentic kiln stacking marks from original firing. Large‑size intact Koryo inlaid celadon vessels are quite rare today. This jar boasts substantial scale, complete bosses and fully preserved thematic decoration, demonstrating highly accomplished Koryo ceramic inlay and pictorial craftsmanship. It serves as important physical reference for studying Koryo kiln technology and cross‑cultural East‑Asian ceramic exchange, with outstanding display and collectible antique value.

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