CYLINDRICAL CUP, Celadon, With wooden box, Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE)

A small Goryeo celadon cup (small bowl) that rises in a straight cylindrical profile. From a low foot it turns in slightly at the lower body, then continues almost straight to the rim. A pale bluish‑green glaze covers the interior and exterior, while overlapping vertical crackle lines run across the outside. Unadorned by ornament, this succinct bowl is defined solely by its glaze and form.

The cylindrical cup is a form of vessel made for drinking tea during the Goryeo dynasty. Influenced by Chinese ceramics, it emerged around the 12th century and was widely produced by the mid-Goryeo period. Beginning with low, wide-mouthed profiles, these cups gradually developed taller bodies and evolved into examples adorned with carving and inlay.

This cup has a height and mouth diameter that are nearly equal; it is unadorned and lacks any inlay. Based on its form and means of decoration, it is thought to date from the late 12th to the early 13th century. Distinct from the more ornate inlaid celadons, it invites a quiet appreciation of the celadon glaze itself and of the cup’s cylindrical form.

Some Goryeo cylindrical cups are found with lids, and it has been suggested they may have been used to preserve the aroma and temperature of tea while drinking. Their form resembles the Japanese cylindrical tea bowl, but the shape originally arose within Goryeo’s own drinking culture.

There are several repairs to the rim, and the vessel’s surface exhibits crazing and scuffing. The foot retains traces of the firing process. These are all marks accrued through the passage of time.

Pale bluish-green glaze, a straight, upright cylindrical profile, and compact dimensions that fit easily in the hand. With no applied decoration, the glaze and the vessel’s form become the principal focus. When filled with tea, the celadon deepens in tone, making the cup especially well suited to tea service.

A wooden box is included.