A Compositional and Microstructural Study of Korean Celadon Glazes of the 11th to 15th Centuries
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A COMPOSITIONAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDY OF KOREAN CELADON GLAZES OF THE 11TH TO 15TH CENTURIES RICHARD NEWMAN Research Laboratory, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Ave., Boston, MA 02115
465 Huntington
Celadons--stonewares with pale green or greenish-blue glazes--have a rich and varied history in ancient China that begins in the Eastern Han period (A.D. 20-220) and extends nearly 1500 years [1]. The initial development of celadon wares in Korea probably dates to the late 9th century [2,3]. The zenith of production was in the llth-12th centuries, during the Kory6 dynasty (918-1392); celadons continued to be produced into the 15th century. In form and type, the earliest Korean celadons were clearly based on Chinese models, although by the middle of the Koryo period uniquely Korean forms and decorative techniques had been developed, notably the use of white and black inlays. During the Koryo period, celadons were probably produced exclusively for court circles and for use in Buddhist temples. Some 270 Kory' period celadon kilns have been found to date. The greatest concentration (about 240) occurs in Chllla province in the south; the major areas of production were around Kangjin and Puan. For the present study, 28 Korean celadon sherds in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, were examined. This paper summarizes the results of our research, compares our results with two other recently published studies on Korean celadons [4,5], and discusses the relationship of Korean celadon glazes to Chinese celadon glazes. The Boston sherds were examined by low-power reflected light microscopy. Cross sections were prepared and examined by reflected light microscopy and back-scattered electron imaging in a Cameca MBX electron beam microprobe with a Tracor-Northern 5500 X-ray analysis system. Compositions were determined by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. Ten major and minor elements (Na,Mg,AI,Si,P,Ca,K,Ti,Fe,Mn) were analyzed. For calibration, a variety of synthetic and natural mineral standards were used and matrix corrections carried out by the empirical (Bence-Albee) method. The glaze compositions were determined by averaging results of at least eight spot analyses at random points in the upper to middle parts of each glaze cross section; point analyses in lines from surface to ceramic body were also carried out on some of the samples to study fine scale compositional variations. The sherds sampled for our study are undoubtedly kiln wasters, although unfortunately their find sites are unknown. The sherds included in the two previously published studies [4,5] came from known kiln sites, for the most part Kangjin and Puan in the case of Koryt period sherds; one study (5] included post-Kory? samples from Pusan and Kongju. While the precise dating of Korean celadons remains somewhat problematic, the sherds in our study can be approximately dated on the basis of style. Like their Chinese counterparts, Korean celadon glazes are 90-95% Ca, Al, and Si oxides: typical ranges for these oxides in Korean celad
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