Vase in the Form of a Melon

1100s

Vase in the Form of a Melon, 1100s. Korea, Goryeo period (918-1392). Celadon; overall: 25.2 cm (9 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Collection 1944.164 As early as the seventh century, the practice of drinking tea and wine became an important part of elite culture in Korea. Elites of the Goryeo period commissioned a variety of types of utensils and vessels including this elegant bottle, not only to make their drinking experience more exciting, but also to show their appreciation of nature. During the Goryeo period (918-1392), kilns operated in Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces, meeting a soaring demand for high-quality tableware. The shape of this bottle resembles is a type of yellow muskmelon cultivated mainly in East Asia.