Saucer

Art Historical Context

This delicate saucer, crafted around 1150 during Korea's Goryeo dynasty918–1392), the era's mastery of ceramics. Produced by an unknown artisan, it hails from a period when Korean potters achieved remarkable technical sophistication, rivaling contemporary Chinese wares. Measuring just 1 1/8 inches high and 4 1/2 inches in diameter, this petite vessel was likely used for serving tea, sauces, or small delicacies in elite households, reflecting the refined aesthetics of Goryeo court life. Made from porcelaneous clay—a high-fired stoneware body prized for its smooth, ivory-like surface and subtle translucency—this saucer represents an early step toward true porcelain. Goryeo potters fired such clays at intense temperatures in dragon kilns, producing durable yet elegant pieces that symbolized cultural prestige. Often adorned with celadon glazes (though not specified here), these ceramics were exported widely, influencing East Asian traditions. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department as a 1919 gift from R. H. Macy & Co., this saucer invites us to appreciate Goryeo's blend of innovation and subtlety—a quiet testament to Korea's enduring ceramic legacy.