Celadon Ware Research Articles

The paradox of authenticity: The Korean Product Showroom of Mitsukoshi department store in colonial Seoul

AbstractMitsukoshi, a famed Japanese department store, opened a Korean Product Showroom in its Keijō (Seoul) branch in 1930. The Korean Product Showroom was the only space decorated in ‘Korean style’ within the Keijō Mitsukoshi building, which was designed in Neo-Renaissance style, much like its flagship store in Tokyo. This showroom offered Korean artefacts as luxury souvenirs aimed at Japanese tourists. The most popular items sold in the showroom were Koryŏ-style celadon ware and lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which Mitsukoshi ordered from local workshops in Korea. Interestingly, the workshops were run by Japanese entrepreneurs and sometimes even employed Japanese artisans. This article examines the inauthentic authenticity of ‘Korean style’ and ‘Korean products’ that the Japanese produced and consumed in colonial Korea. It does not imply that only Koreans are entitled to represent Korean culture. There have been many studies asserting that Korean culture was destroyed and distorted from its ‘original’ forms by Japan’s cultural genocide during the colonial period. This article neither is interested in repeating such criticism nor focuses on recuperating genuine Koreanness. Rather, it explores why the Japanese desired ‘pure Korea’ and how that desire shaped ‘Korean style’ and ‘Korean products’ through Keijō Mitsukoshi’s Korean Product Showroom and its products.

The Making and Production Circumstances of Child Design Goryeo Celadon

This paper aims to reveal how and when child design celadon was produced in Goryeo and the circumstances under which the designs were created. As child design celadon vessels are discovered in kiln sites in Gangjin and Buan or at palace sites or tombs of royal family where they were used, it is likely that they were made for the ruling class. The design first appeared on celadon ware in the 12<sup>th</sup> century and was mainly produced and consumed in the 13<sup>th</sup> century. Its appearance decreased after the early 14th century as influences of the Yuan culture changed the culture of Goryeo. Child designs on Goryeo celadon could be categorized into two major types: type A, which combines child design with plant scroll motifs and type B, where child designs are drawn in picture-like detail. The type A is similar to Ding ware from Song and Jin dynasties, and the type B to paintings of Song dynasty. The influences to the child design were analyzed by examining images that had been popular in China, tracing how they were introduced to Goryeo, and studying related historical documents. Child designs on Goryeo celadon are the outcome of active cultural exchanges with surrounding countries and art works that traveled between them. It serves as an example that demonstrates how an image was introduced and accepted in medieval East Asian international relations.

Corrosion of Longquan celadons in the marine environment: study on the celadons from the Dalian Island shipwreck of the Yuan Dynasty

The Dalian () Island shipwreck of the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 CE) was located in the sea area of Pingtan (), Fujian () Province, China. A total of 603 Longquan () celadon wares were excavated, some of which have been severely corroded. In this study, two celadon specimens with severe corrosion were selected to investigate the corrosion mechanism in the marine environment. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Micro-Raman spectroscopy, and thermal expansion analysis were applied to analyze the microstructure of the glaze, corrosion morphology, and composition of corrosion products, and the corrosion mechanism was discussed in depth. The results showed that these two celadon wares are opaque matt glaze, in which the anorthite crystallization-phase separation structure with low chemical stability was found, which was more likely to be corroded. There are three possible stages in the corrosion process of the glaze. The first stage is mainly the long-term cation exchange reaction. Then, because of the corrosion of the CaO-rich droplet phase and the crystal-glass phase interface layer, the porous structure and many microcracks may be formed, promoting the corrosion process. Finally, many corrosion craters, caused by the shedding of anorthite crystals, may appear on the glaze surface. The quintinite group minerals in the glaze were probably formed during the corrosion process, which may be related to the marine buried environment and the corrosion of the glaze. This study discussed the influencing factors of the corrosion process of celadon wares in the marine environment from the perspective of microstructure for the first time, which is of great significance to the study of the corrosion mechanism of ancient ceramics.

Isotopic investigations of Chinese ceramics

This chapter provides insights into Chinese ceramic technologies of both bodies and glazes as well as provenance by using isotopes applied to a number of case studies. The use of Sr isotopes to investigate Chinese high-fired Celadon wares and blue-and-white Jingdezhen porcelain (Jiangxi province) has revealed a clear distinction associated with the fluxes used in the glazes: plant ash in celadons and limestone in Jingdezhen glazes, something that is not clear from major element analysis. Furthermore, the technique is able to suggest by implication the nature of the silica source used in the glazes—normally weathered granitic rocks or metamorphic rocks (porcelain stone) which also contains Sr. This leads to an isotopic mixing line of the 2 Sr-rich components and is proof that 2 Sr-rich components were mixed in the manufacture of limestone glaze. This is not the case for plant ash glazes. Eventually, the technique may be used in provenance studies. Like Sr isotope analysis, lead isotope analysis relies on there being a lack of or a minimal change in the isotope ratios when the raw materials are heated. Lead isotope analysis links the use of lead in glazes to the original metal ore and if a kiln uses a distinctive lead source in its glazes, it can provide a provenance for the pottery. This has been very successful in distinguishing Chinese Tang sancai wares made in the Huangye, Huangbao, Liquanfang and Qionglai kilns.

Egyptian imitations of Chinese celadon from the 13th–15th centuries from Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria

In Islamic Egyptian glazed ceramics there are three ceramic types inspired by Chinese pottery, stoneware and porcelain: sancai pottery, celadon stoneware and Blue and White porcelain. Egyptian imitations of Chinese celadon ware, produced in the 14th and 15th centuries mainly by Cairene potters working at the Fustat workshops, are particularly noteworthy and the Kom el-Dikka site in Alexandria, excavated by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw, has yielded a collection of over 300 pieces. The typological analysis was based on 235 distinct fragments of utilitarian wares selected on account of their form, decorative elements, technical quality, possible technological defects and, first and foremost, characteristics that qualify them as imitations of Chinese celadon. Two typological ware groups were distinguished: those inspired by Chinese prototypes and those representing indigenous Egyptian ceramics infused with certain motifs copied from the Chinese celadons.

Study on the compositional features of Longquan celadon with black body and Southern Song Guan wares from Laohudong using EDXRF

The celadon with black body is a special and famous type of ceramic artifact in the Chinese history. They have crackled celadon glaze that was a notable typological features. Their bodies are noticeably darker in color than regular celadon wares. This type of ceramic wares mainly includes Southern Song Guan wares from Hangzhou and Longquan celadon with black body that might be classed as Ge wares. They were the top ceramic artifacts in ancient China and have been attracting many attentions. The wares from Longquan and Hangzhou have the similar appearance so that it is difficult to distinguish them from each other. In this paper, we collected some ceramic fragments of Longquan celadon with black body from two kiln sites (Xiaomei Town and Wayaoyang) and Southern Song Guan wares from Laohudong, Hangzhou. We applied the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis to find the similarities and differences in chemical composition between them. The results indicated that the bodies of Longquan and Southern Song Guan samples were made from porcelain stone. Although all their bodies look darker, the contents of coloring elements (iron and titanium) in them were different. The bodies from Laohudong have lower iron and higher titanium than Longquan samples. Their glazes are rich in lime, and the data indicated that the wood ash was the most likely source of the lime-rich component. Depending on the chemical composition of the sample, such as the concentration of manganese and rubidium, one can determine the provenance of samples produced in these three manufacturing sites.

Khalkattapatna port: The lost archaeological heritage of Odisha, east coast of India

The history of Odisha, lying on the east coast of India, is well documented from the Stone Age onwards. The evidences suggest that the ports of Odisha had contacts with the Arabs, Mediterranean countries and South Asia, as well as Southeast Asian countries. Khalkattapatna, a medieval port located on the banks of River Kushabhadra was discovered by archaeological excavations which suggest that between the 13th and 15th centuries it flourished and had contacts with Arabia and China, in addition to other countries. During recent explorations, a number of terracotta ring wells, stamped pottery, Chinese and celadon ware sherds, bricks and brickbats, and terracotta beads were found on the riverbank and in the waters of River Kushabhadra because of erosion of the north bank of the river. Remote sensing images of this region from 1977 to 2014 were analysed to delineate the river mouth and its course. Google Earth images of 2003 and 2011 were also referred to for an understanding of the migration of the northern bank of River Kushabhadra. This note describes the present state of the Khalkattapatna port, causes of erosion, change of north bank of the river course and its consequences.

Desirable commodities – unearthing and collecting Koryŏ celadon ceramics in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

AbstractIn Korea green-glazed celadon ceramics were manufactured during the Koryŏ kingdom (ad 918–1392), but by the end of the fourteenth century their manufacture ceased and they virtually disappeared from view until the 1880s when they began to be unearthed from tombs and other sites. This led to increased interest in them from Koreans, and especially the Japanese, Americans and Europeans. Focusing on British collections, this article outlines the collecting practices of Korean celadon wares from the time of their discovery in the 1880s to the market boom of the 1910s, culminating in the decrease in their availability in the 1930s. It will be argued that the desire for celadon wares was socially conditioned and that celadon were collected for a range of different, though not unrelated reasons, ranging from collectors' pursuit of unique Korean artworks, to their want of genuine antiquities and aesthetic perfection.

Chemical Composition of Ancient Celadon Material (1127-1279 A.D.) from Zhejiang, China and Its Implication

: The microprobe EDXRF equipment was used for analysis of the major and trace elements in glaze layer-transitive layer-body layer of the celadon from the Altar Yao (Kiln) and Laohudong Yao in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279 A.D.), Zhejiang, China. The K values of the discriminant factor for the celadon wares are larger than 8, which means the celadon of the Altar Yao and Laohudong Yao are different from that of the Longquan Yao. The former two belong to the Guan Yao system (the Chinese imperial kilns), but the latter to the Min Yao system (the Chinese popular kilns). The principle component analysis shows their relationship between the Altar and Laohudong wares with provenance postulation. The thickness of the transitive layer in the Altar and Laohudong wares is obviously different, which reveals the microstructure characteristics of the celadon even though both kinds of wares belong to the imperial kiln system.

THE DATING OF ANCIENT CHINESE CELADON BY INAA AND PATTERN RECOGNITION METHODS*

In 2005, sherds of a special type of ancient Longquan celadon ware were excavated at Maojiawan, in the city of Beijing, China. Although archaeologists agree that these sherds were fired in the period between the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, their specific date is unclear. In order to solve this problem, five other groups of ancient Longquan celadon sherds of known date were selected as reference samples. The elemental body composition of all the sherds was determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Using the same principles as in provenance research, pattern recognition methods were used to build classification functions to specify the date of the unknown sherds. After analysing the experimental data by discriminant analysis, three classification functions were built. All the unknown sherds were classified as Ming Dynasty. This prediction is well in accordance with the fact that these sherds are similar to other Longquan Ming celadon, and so they should be fired in the same dynasty. This also verified the judgement of the Beijing Institute of Cultural Relics.

Study on Ru imperial ware and its imitations

This paper is focused on the microstructure and microanalysis of the ancient Chinese Ru imperial ware and its imitations, the ancient Jun ware and Yue celadon ware. Samples were measured by stereomicroscope, polarized-microscope, XRD, SRXRF, HR-TEM and F-SEM, both equipped with EDX. We concluded that there are three phases in the glaze of the Ru imperial ware, a crystalline plus two amorphous phases, while only two amorphous phases were found in the glaze of the Ru's imitation and Jun wares, and only one amorphous phase in the glaze of the Yue celadon. Great differences were observed between the Ru ware and its imitations. Ru's imitations had more similarities with the ancient Jun blue-glazed ware. The unique crystalline phase found in the Ru imperial ware glaze was identified as anorthite. Mechanism of forming blue color in the glaze of Ru imperial ware is related to the Rayleigh scattering. The interlayer found between the glaze and the body had the same mineral paragenesis as the body itself. This and the distribution of the bubbles in the glaze, led us to conclude that the Ru ware was fired before it was glazed and the glassy appearance of its glaze was due to the sudden drop of temperature not because of the high firing temperature as believed in other researches.

Provenance studies of pottery fragments from medieval Cairo, Egypt

In the analysis of archeological pottery fragments, instrumental neutron activation analysis has been utilized to establish the elemental concentrations of up to 37 chemical elements for each of 53 archeological pottery samples from medieval Cairo, Egypt, and one additional sample of Chinese porcelain. These elemental concentrations have been utilized in a statistical analysis procedure in order to determine similarities and correlations between the various samples. Multivariate analyses have been used to quantitatively determine these interrelationships. This methodology successfully separated the Egyptian samples into two broad categories: (1) polychrome decorated ceramic ware and (2) monochrome celadon ware. In addition the methodology successfully identified the one unique sample of Chinese porcelain. Several samples appeared to be either a mixture of categories or outliers in the data set and were not attributable to any distinct category.

A Compositional and Microstructural Study of Korean Celadon Glazes of the 11th to 15th Centuries

AbstractCeladons--stonewares with pale green or greenish-blue glazes--have a rich and varied history in ancient China that begins in the Eastern Han period (A.D. 20-220) and extends nearly 1500 years [1]. The initial development of celadon wares in Korea probably dates to the late 9th century [2,3]. The zenith of production was in the llth-12th centuries, during the Koryŏ dynasty (918-1392); celadons continued to be produced into the 15th century. In form and type, the earliest Korean celadons were clearly based on Chinese models, although by the middle of the Koryo period uniquely Korean forms and decorative techniques had been developed, notably the use of white and black inlays. During the Koryŏ period, celadons were probably produced exclusively for court circles and for use in Buddhist temples. Some 270 Koryŏ period celadon kilns have been found to date. The greatest concentration (about 240) occurs in Chllla province in the south; the major areas of production were around Kangjin and Puan.

Margaret Medley: Illustrated catalogue of celadon wares. (University of London. Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies. [Catalogue,] Section 7.) [iii], 39 pp., 12 plates. [London]: School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977. £2.

Margaret Medley: Illustrated catalogue of celadon wares. (University of London. Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies. [Catalogue,] Section 7.) [iii], 39 pp., 12 plates. [London]: School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977. £2.

Research Items

Excavations at Kuala Selinsing, Perak. Mr. Ivor H. N. Evans, having carried out further excavations on the Tanjong Rawa site, Kuala Selinsing, Perak, Malay Peninsula, has now summarised his conclusions in an account of this later work (J. Fed. Malay States Museums, vol. 15, pt. 3). The inhabitants were not Mohammedans, and were traders in beads of semi-precious stones and glass. Some of these were of local manufacture. The stone beads probably came from India; others show affinities with Borneo and Sarawak, and with ancient beads found among Kachins and Chins, these in the latter instance being derived ultimately from both China and India, sources with which the Selinsing people may have been in touch. A piece of yellow lead slag may point to a connexion with the southern Shan States. The beads from Kuala Selinsing belong to a late iron age to early porcelain age culture that existed in India, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and the Philippines. The people were almost certainly Hindus, as a definitely Hindu type of gold object has been found in the lower layer of the excavations; while a cornelian seal with a Pallava inscription (one of the most remarkable objects found in Malayan excavations in recent years) points to a connexion with southern India. The village would appear to have been built originally over the water, but accumulations of household refuse produced an island above the level of the highest tides. Burials took place under or among the houses, the bodies being placed in canoes and broken porcelain strewn over them. There are many types of pottery, mostly wheel-made with patterns akin to ancient Korean and Chinese. The settlement appears to have come to a violent end soon after A.D. 960, a date indicated by the presence of celadon wares. The earliest date suggested for the seal is about A.D. 400, but it was not found in the lowest level and may have been treasured for hundreds of years after the date of its manufacture, or perhaps be a survival of a script obsolete in India.