[Made to Order] Grand-Scale Celadon Jar: White slip with Relief-Carved and Openwork Peony Motif

[Made to order · Please allow approximately 2–4 months]

“A symphony of light and shadow—cut into porcelain by hand.”

This magnificent Korean celadon jar—measuring 28 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height—epitomises the quiet grandeur of traditional craftsmanship. Entirely shaped and finished by hand, it combines two of Korea’s most intricate ceramic techniques: relief carving (Bakji) and openwork piercing (Tugak), each requiring both technical mastery and aesthetic sensitivity.

The jar’s surface is alive with blooming peonies, delicately incised and pierced to allow light to filter through the leaves and petals. In East Asian art, the peony symbolises prosperity, honour, and enduring beauty—values that resonate deeply across European cultural traditions as well. As light dances through the pierced floral motifs, it casts gentle, ever-shifting shadows that imbue your space with elegance and poetic motion.

The relief-carving process begins with a layer of white slip brushed over the clay body. The artisan then carves away selected areas to reveal celadon’s natural jade-green tone. The interplay of white and green creates a refined duality, while touches of red clay—transformed into vivid crimson through firing—add depth and warmth.

Openwork piercing is a particularly unforgiving process: the ceramic body shrinks as it fires, making every carved void a delicate balance of strength and fragility. This piece has endured that trial with grace, emerging as a work of exceptional harmony between form and shadow.

Whether displayed as a centrepiece or nestled within a contemplative interior, this jar offers not just visual beauty, but a tactile and symbolic experience—a handcrafted artefact that speaks of heritage, patience, and reverence for detail.

Due to the entirely handmade nature of this piece, slight variations in colour, texture, and carving may be present. These are not imperfections, but the subtle signatures of the artist’s touch—each jar is truly one of a kind.

Dimensions

• Diameter- 28cm (11.02 inch)
• Height- 20cm (7.87 inch)

Related Links

• About Celadon

Each piece is made to order and completed through a careful handcrafting process. Please allow approximately 2–4 months for completion and dispatch. As each work is individually made, timing may vary slightly. Should there be any change to the expected schedule, we will keep you informed. If the piece is completed sooner, shipment will be arranged as soon as it is ready.