An archaeochemical microstructural study on Koryǒ inlaid celadon

Abstract

With the invention of the inlaying technique for celadon in the latter half of the 12th century, the Koryǒ potters reached a new height of artistic and scientific achievement in ceramics chemical technology. Inlaid celadon shards, collected in 1991 during the surface investigation of Kangjin kilns found on the southwestern shore of South Korea, were imbedded in epoxy resin and polished for cross-section examination. Backscattered electron images were taken with an electron microprobe equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer. The spectrometer was also used to determine the composition of micro-areas. Porcelain stone, weathered rock of quartz, mica, and feldspar composition were found to be the raw material for the body and important components in the glaze and white inlay. The close similarity between glaze and black inlay in the microstructure suggests that the glaze material was modified by adding clay with high iron content, such as biotite, for use as black inlay. The deep soft translucent quality of celadon glaze is brought about by its microstructure of bubbles, remnant and devitrified minerals, and the schlieren effect.