Celadon Maebyeong: Peony and Foliage Motifs in White-Slip Sgraffito, 2024

This work is chosen by those who value the relationship between a ceramic form and the care with which its surface has been worked.

"White peonies unfold across the celadon, following the gentle descent of the vase’s shoulders."

Created in 2024 by Icheon ceramic master Kim Yong-seop, this celadon Maebyeong brings together the distinctive curves of traditional Korean pottery and the detailed floral treatment of white-slip sgraffito, known in Korean ceramics as bakji. The composition centres on peonies and their abundant foliage, expressed through the contrast between pale white slip and the natural blue-green colour of celadon.

The form of the Maebyeong is essential to the work. Its full, rounded shoulders narrow towards the lower body, creating a continuous curve that gives the vessel both volume and composure. The decoration follows this changing surface, allowing the flowers and leaves to be appreciated not as a flat image, but as a composition carried around a three-dimensional form.

The floral design is achieved through a demanding sequence of handwork. Once the vessel has been formed, its surface is coated with white clay slip. The peonies, stems and numerous leaves are then drawn out, establishing the areas that will remain white. The surrounding slip is carefully scraped away, exposing the underlying clay that develops the characteristic celadon colour beneath the glaze.

This process requires considerable precision, particularly where leaves overlap or narrow stems meet. The surrounding material must be removed without disturbing the outlines of the motifs. Each carefully cleared area determines how distinctly the white flowers and foliage will appear against the celadon ground. The result depends as much on what is taken away as on what is preserved.

In Korean art, the peony, or mokdan, has long been associated with prosperity, honour and abundance. Its generous petals and spreading leaves made it a familiar subject in traditional painting, textiles and ceramics. Here, the motif retains those associations while the restrained palette allows its botanical forms to remain the focus.

The difference between the two surfaces is particularly engaging. The exposed celadon ground gives the composition depth, while the remaining white slip brings the flowers and leaves forward. As light moves over the curved body, the outlines become more or less pronounced, encouraging the eye to follow the design around the vessel.

Kim Yong-seop has allowed the shape of the Maebyeong and the floral composition to work together. The rounded shoulders provide space for the decoration, while the narrowing lower body draws the design into a more contained silhouette. The vessel is richly worked, yet its overall impression remains measured, with the beauty of its curves and the precision of the carved surface given equal attention.

Dimension

• Diameter- 20 cm (7.87 inch)
• Height- 33cm (12.99 inch)

Related Links

• About Celadon
• Kim Yong Seop Collection
• Master Artisan Collection

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