Melon-shaped Wine Ewer
Unknown Artist
1100s-1200s
Medium
celadon
Dimensions
outer diameter 6.7 cm · height with lid: h. 9 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of John L. Severance
Accession Number
1928.173
About this artwork
Many celadon ceramics, such as these two miniature pots, have been repaired with gold lacquer. Termed kintsugi (literally meaning “gold joinery”) in Japanese, this restoration method highlights broken parts with glittering gold mixed with lacquer. Initiated in 15th-century Japan, the technique follows a popular aesthetic concept called wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfect things. Goryeo celadons were considered rare treasures among early 20th-century Japanese collectors; thus, their broken...