Cup with Chrysanthemum Design

1200s

Cup with Chrysanthemum Design, 1200s. Korea, Goryeo period (918-1392). Glazed stoneware with slip decoration; overall: 8.1 cm (3 3/16 in.); diameter of mouth: 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Robert W. Moore 1986.243 As early as the seventh century, the practice of drinking tea became an important part of elite culture in Korea. In enjoying teas, elites commissioned a variety of types of utensils and vessels including this large bowl, not only to make their tea-drinking experience more exciting, but also to show their refined taste. The inlaid technique depicting blooming chrysanthemums, as demonstrated in this tea cup, was the major decoration method utilized by 14th-century Korean potters.