Punchong ware maebyong vase

From Korea
Early Choson dynasty, 15th century AD

Inlaid decoration of fish among waves

The best quality celadon ware had been produced in the south-west coast of the Korean peninsula. However, this area was severely attacked by Japanese pirates during the late Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and many high quality kilns were destroyed. New kilns, using poorer quality clay, began to produce punchong ware. It was made throughout the first half of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) before the late sixteenth century when it was replaced by white porcelain.

Wine bottles like this are known as maebyong, which comes from the Chinese mei-ping ('vase for plum blossoms'), a misnomer dubbed by Chinese scholars. It would have originally had a lid.

J. Portal, Korea - art and archaeology (London, The British Museum Press, 2000)