Many outstanding animal-shaped celadon wares were created from the early 12th century through the 13th century. This ewer takes the form of a tortoise comfortably lying on a lotus flower, although its face and chest are those of a dragon, as was often the case with the tortoise-shaped pedestals of monuments erected during the Goryeo Dynasty. The inside of the beehive design on its shell is incised with the Chinese character 王, meaning “king,” and its lotus stalk-shaped handle is decorated with black dots. The deeply carved lotus petals and the stately turtle lend a sense of stability to this work, while the thick layer of celadon glaze harmonizes with its stately form.