Celadon Gourd-shaped Ewer

This 12th-century celadon ewer was molded in the shape of a gourd. It has a melon-like, eight-lobed body, a spout resembling a rolled-up gourd leaf, and a handle reminiscent of a twisted vine. The lid also resembles a small inverted gourd leaf. The ewer characteristically has no base, as if to accentuate the elegant silhouette. Overall the vessel exudes a refined sense of balance and stability. The ewer is representative of plain celadon of the 12th century, when the celadon art of the Goryeo Dynasty reached a height in form and glaze color. It is among the finest celadon ewers with a pure, semi-transparent glaze of a light green color. Its historical and artistic value is highly estimated.