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Which plants and animals commonly appeared in Korean celadon decoration?
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Korean art
Dragon jar, porcelain with iron-painted decoration under clear glaze, Korea, mid-17th century; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York. 31.4 × 37.1 cm. Diameter at mouth 12 cm. Diameter at base 9.5 cm.
In Korean celadon decoration, particularly during the Koryŏ dynasty (918–1392), motifs were frequently inspired by the natural world.
The most common subjects appearing in these designs include:
- Floral motifs: These were the most prevalent subjects for decoration, often featuring isolated flowers with symmetrically radiating petals. Foliage was also a frequent motif used in incised designs.123
- Birds: These appeared occasionally as decorative elements on celadon pieces.123
- Clouds: These were also occasionally featured in the designs.3
Beyond these specific decorative motifs, the physical forms of many Korean celadons were themselves inspired by nature, with many vessels featuring lobed shapes based on the melon or the gourd. While early Koryŏ celadon focused on plain, lustrous glazes, later periods—particularly the era of inlaid celadon—saw these floral and bird patterns become central to the decorative aesthetic.1234