Bowl, 12th or 13th century

One of the most significant contributions of the Korean potter to ceramic art was the technique of slip-inlay (sanggam). Developed around the mid-twelfth century, the technique quickly became a national specialty. The inlay was produced by first incising or stamping designs into the clay, and then filling the depressions with white or black slip before glazing and firing.

This shallow bowl demonstrates the variety of decorative effects that can be achieved with this technique. The chrysanthemum blossoms on the exterior and in the center of the interior medallions were stamped and then filled with white slip. The greenish black leaves and surrounding design were freely carved with a V-shaped knife. In a technique known as reverse inlay (yoksanggam), the background of the curling, gray green foliage, rather than the leaves themselves, was carved out and filled with white slip.