Bowl

Celadon

Celadon is a Western term for ceramic wares with glazes ranging in color from light bluish green to olive green. Such wares were first made in China, and became some of the most admired ceramics in the world. China's neighbors Korea, Japan, and Thailand were eager to create celadon wares of their own that would equal the beauty of the Chinese versions. On display in this case are celadon wares from these Asian countries.

Celadon became an important item in international trade. Chinese celadons had always been sought after in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. They had also been exported in quantity to Persia, Turkey, and Egypt from the 1100s onward. Celadons were so valuable in trade that ceramics workshops in Thailand produced large numbers of them to compete with the Chinese for sales in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Between 1000 and 1400 Korea produced a jade-like celadon admired by connoisseurs all over the world. Korea also produced inlaid celadons, some of which have been found as far away as the Philippines.