西川茂

EWER, Celadon with inlaid design of boys and baoxianghua scroll

DesignationImportant Cultural Property
Date1Goryeo dynasty
Date212th-13th century
Height(cm)19.2
Width(cm)23.9×16.4
Weight(g)1668
CollectionThe ATAKA Collection
Credit LineThe Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection), photograph by NISHIKAWA Shigeru
Accession No.00226
DescriptionThe body of this ewer is covered with a scene of boys climbing vines amid large baoxianghua flowers. The motif of boys playing among vines are often found in ceramics of the Song dynasty of China and this work was probably inspired by those Chinese works. This motif, symbolizing the wish for prosperity of descendants, pleasantly harmonizes with the smooth, globular form. Diverse decorative techniques are observed in this piece. The reverse inlay technique, in which the motifs were outlined in black inlay while the background was inlaid with white slip, makes the rarely large baoxianghua flower motifs stand out even clearer. On the joint sections of the handle and spout to the body are embellished with lotus leaves and buds, to which decorations were added in trailed white slip and iron paint. Such various elements make this ewer a masterpiece among the celadon of this type.
URL for TIFF imageshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XbX_ZCos8gd6pdbNWOzwHsEty7d25ak6?usp=sharing

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