Buncheong Maebyeong with Inlaid Fish Design
This style of vase—with a short neck and a wide, rounded shoulder that curves elegantly down into a constricted waist—is known as a maebyeong, from the Chinese meiping (“plum vase”). This fine maebyeong, with a smooth S-shaped outline, is densely covered with inlaid designs, including the central design of a fish, leaving virtually no unadorned space. Indeed, buncheong wares are often covered with diverse patterns, seemingly to hide the color of the rough base clay. In terms of the shape, this vase resembles celadon vessels from the late Goryeo period, but the extensive use of white-clay decoration is a distinguishing trait of buncheong ware.