An Ancient Korean Celadon Vase with Gold Repairs
- Artist:
- —
- Era:
- Kamakura
- Price:
- $25,000
- Inquire:
- Contact gallery
- Similar artwork:
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Several years ago we were invited by our very talented kintsugi craftsman to what is known as a “kura-ake” or storehouse opening. Many reading this may be familiar with the traditional storehouses in Japan (kura) with their thick plaster walls used to store valuable items—often for hundreds of years—safe from humid air, insects, and the like. On occession, after the passing of a parent or relative, these storehouses are opened up and the art pieces and valuables inside are auctioned off to a small group of lucky invitees. On the opening we attended we were fortunate to acquire several fine antique items and our craftsman was able to acquire this very old Korean vase that he turned into a personal project and spent several months repairing. The lions share of proceeds from this sale will go to this talented gentleman, so a purchase would also be a good way of directly supporting this fading Japanese traditional art.
The apparent age of this piece, its distinctive gray/green hue, and signs of wear and oxidation suggest Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Korean celadons from this era, especially when contrasted with their Chinese or Japanese counterparts, tend towards a subtle elegance and possess unique attributes such as soft jade-like glazes and innovative "sanggam" inlay patterns, where intricate designs are incised into the clay and filled with colored slips before glazing. These much sought after characteristics along with their rarity have made such pieces very attractive among collectors of Asian art. Though the techniques to produce these vessels were imported directly from Song Dynasty traditions, the materials available, minerals in the clay, and local sensibilities led to very pronounced differences in the type of pottery that was produced. Looking back, many feel today that Korean Goryeo celadons from this era are some of the finest in existence and excellent examples can be found in private and museum collections around the world.
Meticulously repaired by our kintsugi master-craftsman as a personal project, this piece is 6.3 inches at its wides point (16cm) and stands 6 inches tall (15cm). It comes with a very old period wood box, implying that the piece may have been brought to Japan sometime in the Edo period, and also comes with an exceptionally nice decorative wrapping cloth.
*** International shipping and insurance is included in the price.
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