Examples of Objects on Display

• 

  COVER OF AN INCENSE BURNER IN THE SHAPE OF A LION

  Celadon
  Goryeo dynasty, before 1131
  Taean shipwreck, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
  Height: 13.9cm, base diameter: 11.0cm
  National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, Korea
  Photograph: Muda Tomohiro
  

  This is a cover of an incense burner crowned with a lion. The smoke of the incense passes through the lion’s hollow body and pours out from its mouth. There are other animal-shaped covers, such as dragon, mandarin duck and qilin (Chinese mythological animal). The lion in this piece has an upight nose like a horn and a square open mouth showing fangs. It hangs a bell at its chest. Its wide-set eyes, dotted with iron pigment, always meet the viewer’s eyes regardless of the position from which the lion is viewed: front, side, back or even above. The viewer can feel the mysterious atmosphere created by the strong power delivered from these eyes as if being watched. The beard under the chin, tongue and mane on the back are incised in a unique decorative technique which has not been observed in other extant works.

• 

  MEIPING VASE(Treasure No. 1783 )

  Celadon with inlaid design of chrysanthemum, peony, willow, reed and bamboo
  Goryeo dynasty, before 1213
  Mado Shipwreck No.2, Mado Island, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
  Height: 39.1cm, mouth diameter: 7.1cm, base diameter: 14.2cm
  National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, Korea
  Photograph: Muda Tomohiro
  

  This vase has a wide, swollen shoulder and its body tapers down to the foot, creating a beautiful S-shaped curve, one of the characteristics of Goryeo celadon meiping vases. Its particularly imposing appearance is one of the fascinating aspects of this piece. The body is vertically divided into six sections by fluted bold lines. Each section has a lobed panel containing an inlaid design of chrysanthemums, peonies, willows, reeds, bamboos and hollyhocks. At the time of discovery in the wreck, the vase had a wooden tag tied to the mouth, indicating that the vase was containig sesame seed oil. This evidence clarified another use of meiping vases besides storing wine or water. It also became clear that the form of the meiping vase was called jun (literally meaning "barrel" or "ceramic jar" for storing wine).
  
  

• 

  STAND

  Celadon with openwork decoration
  Goryeo dynasty, before 1208
  Mado Shipwreck No.1, Mado Island, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
  Height: 12.2cm, width: 21.9cm
  National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, Korea
  Photograph: Muda Tomohiro
  
  

  This cylindrical vessel stand is divided into three horizontal sections. The upper section has a thick ring which is supported by a cloud-shaped decoration, mounting on the middle section with an openwork and inlaid design. The lower section has four legs. The center of the stand is widely hollow through the base, the lower aperture being smaller than the upper aperture in order to hold the vessel firmly. While no similar examples are known, Chinese ceramics and historical materials suggest that this piece could have been used as a stand for a bottle or vase, perhaps a meiping vase.