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Cosmetic box: C.85 & A-1984

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Pottery: Unknown (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Cosmetic box and cover with chrysanthemums and clouds design. Stoneware, moulded, incised, inlaid in white slip, and celadon glazed. Probably Sadang-ri ware. The cover of this tall box is inlaid in white slip with a large chrysanthemum floret in the centre, surrounded by key-fret and flower-scroll borders. The sides of both box and cover are incised with six clouds each. The dark green celadon glaze is evenly applied and has no crackle. The rims of both parts are free of glaze and show traces of fire-clay supports, the flat base has three quartzite spur-marks.

Notes

History note: Unknown before donor

Legal notes

Gompertz Gift

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 7 cm
Height: 6 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1984) by Gompertz, G. St. G. M., Mr and Mrs

Dating

Koryo Dynasty
12th Century
Circa 1150 CE - 1200 CE

Note

Cylindrical boxes of this shape are fairly rare. It appears to have been made at Sadang-ri, Kangjin after 1160, when the sanggam (inlay) technique began to be used more frequently.

Components of the work

Decoration composed of slip ( white)
Glaze composed of celadon glaze
Base Diameter 6.4 cm

Materials used in production

Stoneware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Stoneware, moulded, incised, inlaid in white slip, and celadon-glazed
Glazing (coating)

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.85 & A-1984
Primary reference Number: 16320
Old object number: 70
Box number: 70

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Cosmetic box" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/16320 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:06:07

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/16320 |title=Cosmetic box |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:06:07|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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