An inlaid celadon glazed bottle from the former Maspero collection acquired by the Musee National des Arts asiatiques-Guimet

This twin-gourd-shaped bottle acquired by the Musee Guimet in 2008 is representative of the finest period of Korean celadons: the 12(th)-13(th) centuries, during the Koryo period. Although technique and form remain Chinese, the Korean ceramists have transcended the model, and added a specifically Korean touch, in which some have detected the Buddhist influence that prevailed at the time. Despite barbarian incursions and Mongol invasions, the piece-with its typically Korean glazed inlaid decoration-offers a vision of a strangely peaceful world, adopting a deliberately ultimate and highly decorative approach, quite remote from the quasi-industrial production developed by the Yuan, as illustrated by the cargo of the Sman boat discovered off the Korean coast. (PC, 28.07.08)