The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 19, 2022

Pitcher with Inlaid Chrysanthemum and Peony Design

청자 상감 국화·모란무늬 참외모양 주전자 (靑磁象嵌菊牡丹文瓜形注子)

1200s

Part of a set. See all set records

Korea, Goryeo period

(918-1392)

Celadon ware with inlaid white and black slip decoration

Height with lid: 20.6 cm (8 1/8 in.); Outer diameter: 15 cm (5 7/8 in.)

Gift of John L. Severance 1917.357

Location

236 Korean

Fun Fact

The shape of this pitcher resembles is a type of yellow muskmelon cultivated mainly in East Asia.

Description

This melon-shaped pitcher is adorned with a delicate drawing that renders chrysanthemum buds with full blossoms in white and black inlays. In Korea, chrysanthemum flowers and leaves were made into both tea and wine. Chrysanthemum wine was enjoyed during the the Double Nine Festival (the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar) during which people pray for longevity.

Citations
Cleveland Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Kungnip Chungang Pangmulgwan (Korea), and Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. 5,000 Years of Korean Art. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1979. Reproduced: p. 104, no. 141
Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
Lee, Young-hee. "The Study on the Craft technique of Koryo Dynasty-Centering on Interrelation [고려시대 공예기법 연구 상호관련성을 중심으로]." Misulsa hakbo 22 (2004): 133-170. www.dbpia.co.kr
Jang, Nam-won. "The Tea and Celadons during the Goryeo Dynasty : Considering the Celadon Tea Utensils [고려시대 茶文化와 靑瓷]." Misulsa nondan (2007): 129-162. www.dbpia.co.kr
Goryeo: The Glory of Korea [대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
Sparkles of Jade: Goryeo Celadon [高麗青磁 : ヒスイのきらめき]. Ōsaka: Ōsaka: Shiritsu Tōyō Tōji Bijutsukan, 2018.
Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Seoul: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021. Reproduced: p. 23, fig. 4
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1917.357