Celadon Sanggam‘sinchuk’myeong Gukhwamoranmun Byeo Pavilion

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1382

Category

Craft

Era

고려시대(12세기)

Designated year

2003

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 이태원로55길 60-16 (한남동, 삼성박물관 리움)

Coordinates

37.536528, 126.996187

Very few celadon inkstones have survived from the Goryeo Dynasty. This celadon inkstone is particularly valuable, as it bears inscriptions providing the date of its creation and names of the artisan who made it and the person who used to own it. The inkstone, in a long rectangular shape, has an incised peony and scroll design on the two sides, inlaid with black and white slip. The front and back surfaces are adorned with inlaid chrysanthemum, scroll, and cloud designs. The top side of the inkstone is ringed with a band of incised lightning motifs along its edge, and the surface is engraved with chrysanthemum motifs in fine incised lines. The surface, coated with a clear glaze with a light greenish blue hue, has an even tone, including in areas where underglaze decorations are present. The bottom of the inkstone shows traces of having scraped off the glaze and bears eighteen marks from kiln spurs made of sand-mixed heat resistant clay. There are inscriptions on the right side in the sunken area at the top and on the left side of the inkstone. In the inscription, “Sinchuk (辛丑)”, the name of the year, can refer to the year 1121, 1181, or 1241. Based on the condition of the glaze and aspects of inlaid decorations, the year of Sinchuk referenced here is possibly 1181. One of very rare extant celadon objects of its kind, this inkstone is also quite exceptional for the intricacy of inlaid decorations and beauty of the glazed surface. The celadon inkstone is made further valuable because of the inscriptions providing the date of its creation and the names of its maker and owner.

Location