Oriental - Korean - Celadon

Korea has the second longest tradition of porcelain production in the world (after China). Korean potters first produced porcelain in 918, during the Koryo Dynasty.

Although contemporary with the Chinese Sung Dynasty, the Koryo potters took their inspiration from the earlier Tang Dynasty Yue wares. These were grey-green vessels (called "celadon" in the West or "Ch’ongja" in Korean) with incised patterns under the glaze. Their ideal was to reproduce the colour of jade.

The most common decoration of Korean pottery is the crane which is a symbol of long life.

 Celadon bottle

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Oriental - Korean - Traditional Arts & Crafts

Over the past 30 years demand for fine examples of chests, celadon and artwork from "Chosun", Land of the Morning Calm, now known as Korea, has sometimes led to the mistaken belief that traditional examples of the arts and crafts of the Korean peninsula are no longer obtainable. Fortunately, this is not the case, as regular travellers to Korea dealing in the arts and crafts of the country well know. However, antique dealers must still exercise their abilities and knowledge to obtain such pieces.

In dealing with Korea’s unique arts and crafts, they recognise and differentiate between antique, traditional and contemporary pieces. There are many fine examples of traditional Korean furniture which may not be 100 years old (the standard definition of "antique") because furniture has continued to be made with the traditional Shaman, Taoist and Confucian belief systems associated with it throughout the various dynasties to the 20th century. Any consideration of an authentic Korean piece must include pieces that may be as little as 60 or 70 years old. Sometimes the difference between "old" and "antique" may be as little as a few years.
 

 North Korean limewood, Pyongyang blanket chest with white brass fittings. The incised designs on this chest are traditional auspicious motifs.

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