The celadon melon-shaped bottle () is a Korean ceramic bottle from the Goryeo period, widely recognized for its elegant synthesis of natural form, exquisite jade-green glaze, and masterful potting. The artpiece is designated as the 94th National Treasures of South Korea. It is currently preserved in the collection of the National Museum of Korea in Seoul.
Origin The celadon melon-shaped bottle was excavated from the Inneung Royal Tomb (인릉) in Kaesong (modern-day North Korea), which is the tomb of King Injong (r. 1122–1146), the 17th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty. As the year of King Injong's death (1146) provides a strict terminus ante quem (date before which the object was produced), this artifact serves as an indispensable standard baseline for dating 12th-century Goryeo celadon. Furthermore, ceramic shards sharing identical formal characteristics and high glaze purity have been uncovered at the Sadang-ri kiln site in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, confirming that this vessel was crafted at the primary royal kiln complex of Goryeo under strict state oversight.
Characteristics With a height of 22.8 centimeters (8.98 inches) and mouth and foot rim diameter of 8.8 centimeters each, this vessel is modeled after the Korean melon, capturing a natural aesthetic that harmonizes organic beauty with symmetrical order. The mouth of the bottle unfolds like the delicate petals of an opening flower, from which a slender, smooth neck extends downward to join the body. The main body is divided into eight rounded vertical lobes, precisely mimicking the lobed sections of a melon. At the base, a pleated or flared apron foot shaped like a stylized skirt supports the vessel, imparting visual stability and structural balance. The glaze exhibits the iconic bisaek (jade green) hue, characterized by a smooth translucency, uniform surface, and minimal craze lines, showcasing the absolute pinnacle of Goryeo celadon firing technology.
Material The bottle was fabricated using high-grade, highly refined clay containing optimal levels of iron oxide, which is required to achieve the characteristic celadon color upon reduction firing. Crafting the eight-lobed body demanded exceptional wheel-throwing skill, where the ceramic artist shaped the lobed contours by applying internal pressure or carving precise vertical flutes while the clay was leather-hard. The vessel was coated with a thin, clear glaze containing tiny iron trace elements and fired in a high-temperature wood-burning dragon kiln under a strictly controlled reduction atmosphere (deprived of oxygen) at approximately 1,200°C to 1,250°C. Spur marks remaining on the bottom of the foot indicate that the vessel was supported by fine quartz sand during the firing process to prevent sticking.
Significance In East Asian tradition, the melon and multi-lobed floral motifs symbolize fertility, prosperity, and the harmonious continuation of the royal bloodline due to the abundant seeds found within the fruit. The integration of vegetable and floral aesthetics into stoneware reflects the Daoist and Buddhist reverence for nature prevalent among the Goryeo aristocracy. the National Treasure No. 94 represents the zenith of plain, uninlaid celadon, a period when Korean potters successfully perfected their unique aesthetic independence from Chinese Northern Song influences, by creating softer contours and richer jade-green glazes.
See also
Goryeo Celadon Museum Korean pottery and porcelain Buncheong Joseon white porcelain References
External links
Koryô Celadon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art online Koryo Celadon (Korean Ceramics) at the National History Institute of Korea Korea in Focus: Celadon Wares and Tea Culture at the Cleveland Museum of Art