This beautiful celadon ewer and basin, which are said to have been excavated near Gaeseong, conjure thoughts of Goryeo aristocrats sharing drinks and conversation. The two vessels were produced as a set, with the gourd-shaped ewer fitting snugly into the bowl-shaped basin. The black and white designs stand out against the jade-colored background for a pleasant sense of harmony and balance. The ewer was used to hold and pour various liquids, such as alcohol and water, while the basin supported the ewer and kept the liquids warm. With their symbiotic forms, unique decorative expression, and liberated designs, this ewer and basin were jointly designated as a Treasure in 2017.

This ceramic set consists of an ewer, lid, and basin. While a considerable number of Goryeo celadon ewers are extant, complete sets with an intact lid and basin are exceptionally rare, making this set especially valuable.

The ewer is shaped like a gourd, and thus falls into the special category of celadon wares shaped like plants, animals, or people. Like a double gourd, it has a wide spherical lower body connected to a smaller sphere on the top by a short cylindrical neck. The spout is gently curved outward, while the handle is shaped like the twisted vines of a real gourd. The hemispherical lid has a tiny ring attached to the top, and another ring can be seen on the top of the handle. At one point, a piece of string was likely tied to these rings to connect the lid to the body.

The basin is shaped like a bowl with a flared foot. In China, basins that accompanied ewers were called either “tuowan” (托碗, “supporting bowl”) or “wenwan” (溫碗, “warming bowl”). The body of this basin curves gently up from the tall foot before becoming straighter towards the thick lip, which flares slightly outward. Overall, the basin looks somewhat short and stocky, indicating that it was likely produced in the thirteenth century. In contrast, most ewers with basins from the twelfth century have slimmer, more elegant curves, spouts that extend further away from the body, and more luminous glaze.

The glaze was wiped off the bottom of the ewer and basin, both of which show traces of fire-resistant clay on which the foot was placed during firing. The set was produced with refined clay and coated with glaze with a brilliant gloss and a clear grayish-green color. In addition to its rare status and excellent condition, this set is also distinguished by its impeccable form and the striking expression of the designs, showing superior ceramic skill and craftsmanship.

Goryeo celadon vessels can be adorned with a wide variety of decorative expressions and techniques. Probably the two best-known decorative types are monochrome celadon, which highlights the lovely color of the jade glaze, and inlaid celadon, in which areas of the clay surface are scraped away and refilled with clay of a different color, an innovative technique of Goryeo. In addition, many Goryeo celadon vessels are carved with either incised or embossed designs. Two other important methods of decoration are painting with iron-brown underglaze and painting with white slip, both of which were used on this ewer and basin set.

One of the details that makes this ewer and basin so impressive is the unconventional decorative techniques. At first glance, it looks like the floral designs were inlaid with black and white clay, but in fact, they were painted on with a brush. Painting allows for a freer and bolder expression of designs than inlay, and also preserves traces of the brushstrokes. The black motifs were painted with pigment containing iron oxide (Fe2O3), which darkens to black after firing, while the white areas were painted with white slip. After the designs were painted, the vessel was coated with glaze and fired, yielding the final colors.

The techniques of painting with iron-brown underglaze or white slip were most commonly used to add secondary patterns of lines or dots to accent incised, embossed, or inlaid designs. But in some cases, these techniques was used to create the entire design, as seen here. As mentioned, such painted designs closely resemble black and white inlay, but they are much easier to produce than inlaid designs. At the same time, they emanate a refined and lively atmosphere, demonstrating skilled craftsmanship.

The designs on Goryeo celadon add beauty and vitality to the ceramic vessel. On this ewer and basin set, the designs are further energized by the unrestrained brushstrokes of black and white. The ewer was painted with designs of flowers and scrolling vines. Curling vines extend down from the mouth, while the neck is encircled by horizontal lines. The spout seems to be decorated with the veins of a newly sprouting leaf. The harmonious use of iron-brown underglaze and white slip yields an attractive contrast, with the dark lines around the spout producing a particularly neat impression. The lid is completely covered with alternating vertical stripes of black and white.

In the center of the body, a black flower blooms inside a circle of white. The painted petals and branches of the flower are outlined with thin incised lines, creating a captivating three-dimensional effect. This central design is encircled by a band of white containing an incised scroll design. Four more white circles containing a black flower appear on the four sides of the basin. The abstract style of the flowers, omitting any natural details, and the dynamic form of the vines exude a lively and highly modern sensibility. But at the same time, an adequate amount of blank space remains, preventing the designs from feeling cluttered. Overall, the enchanting floral design is reminiscent of a painting executed on a canvas of celadon clay. The succinct yet meticulous expression of the flowers can only be the work of a highly skilled artisan who had mastered the techniques of painting with iron-brown underglaze and white slip.