Apr 17, 2012
Apr 18, 2012
Apr 18, 2012

Bowl with Inlaid Cranes and Clouds Design

Bowl with Inlaid Cranes and Clouds Design

청자 상감 구름·학무늬 사발 (靑磁陽刻雲鶴文碗)

1200s-1300s

Pottery

Diameter of mouth: 19.7 cm (7 3/4 in.); Overall: 8.2 cm (3 1/4 in.)

Gift of John L. Severance 1921.629

Location

Did you know?

An actual event in 1121, which constitutes a groups of cranes hovering above the palace in Kaifeng, the capital of the Chinese Northern Song dynasty, soon became internationally recognized as a heavenly sign about the ruler's virtuous governance.

Description

As early as the seventh century, the practice of drinking tea and wine became an important part of elite leisure culture in Korea. A wide bowl like this example was especially suitable for drinking powdered tea shaved from a compressed tea cake, the most commonly enjoyed type during the Goryeo period. The image of flying cranes amid clouds that decorate the inner wall of this tea bowl is considered an auspicious sign particularly about the king's good governance.

See also
Collection: 
Korean Art
Department: 
Korean Art
Type of artwork: 
Ceramic
Medium: 
Pottery

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