Korea, 12th-13th century. Of circular form with canted edges and a flat top, inlaid on the cover in white and black slip with a central floral spray encircled by cranes in a lotus pond and a band of leafy scroll, all above bands of key-fret to the sides, covered overall in a rich and finely crackled green celadon glaze.

Provenance: From a private estate in the United Kingdom. The base with an old label inscribed '3/18/2004. $1,500.00'.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, including pitting, kiln grit, dark spots, tiny hairlines, and minor glaze recesses. Very light nicks and tiny scratches.

Weight: 185.7 g
Diameter: Diameter 8.3 cm

Celadons, spoons, seals, and bronze mirrors were the most common burial objects in tombs during the Goryeo period (918-1392). Once used to contain colored powder, rouge, and eyebrow gel for makeup, this small container was one of the standard goods that furnished elites' tombs. Both women and men used the grain powder of rice or millet for whitening their skin, safflower extract for rouge, and plant ash or soot for eyebrow gel. Yet, natural-looking makeup seems to have been the most favorable one in Korea according to the travelogue by Xu Jing (1091-1153), the Chinese diplomat who visited Korea in 1123.

This inlay technique is called 'sanggam', which was invented by Korean ceramic artists in the twelfth century and adorned tableware and ritual vessels used by the court and nobility for two centuries. The design was incised into the clay body of the vessel and then filled with slip (diluted clay). The excess slip would have been removed before the piece was biscuit fired, then the bottle was covered with a translucent celadon glaze and fired again. The development of the sanggam inlay technique signifies the elegance and innovativeness of Goryeo ceramic production. No similar inlay technique was used by Chinese craftsmen at this time.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related slip-inlaid celadon-glazed box and cover, dated 13th-14th century, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1928.169. Compare a closely related cosmetic box, dated to the 12th century, diameter 5.6 cm, in the Princeton University Art Museum, object number y1966-53 a-b.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 18 April 2018, lot 130
Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A slip-inlaid celadon box and cover, Goryeo dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and motifs. Note the size (10.4 cm).