13th-Century Goryeo Celadon and 17th-Century Portrait of Meritorious Official to Become National Treasures

Blue and White Porcelain Bowl with Inlaid Double Dragons and Chrysanthemums, and Portrait of Yoo Hyukgol with Chest
Masterful Use of Advanced Reversed Inlay Technique: "Exemplifies Mature Artistry"
Displays Typical Iconography of 17th-Century Meritorious Officials

Celadon Inlaid Double Dragon Chrysanthemum Pattern Bowl

Celadon inlayware from the Goryeo Dynasty, crafted with mature techniques, and a Joseon Dynasty portrait complete with its dedicated storage chest, will be officially designated as national treasures. The National Heritage Administration announced on March 4 that the "Blue and white porcelain bowl with inlaid double dragon and chrysanthemum patterns" and the "Portrait of Yoo Hyukgol and chest" will be designated as National Treasures. The process involves gathering public opinions from various sectors for one month and then completing the designation procedures through a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The Blue and white porcelain bowl with inlaid double dragon and chrysanthemum patterns, produced around the 13th century, is distinctive for its rimless form, with both its interior and exterior densely filled using inlay and incised techniques. Unusually, the inside base features two dragons and waves. The bowl is larger than typical bowls of its kind and was made using a highly advanced reversed inlay technique, where the area outside the design is carved out and filled with white clay. For these reasons, it is believed to have been used by the royal court or government offices. The National Heritage Administration commented, "With no signs of repair and its excellent surface condition, it exemplifies the mature artistry of 13th-century celadon."

Portrait of Yoo Hyukgeol

The Portrait of Yoo Hyukgol and chest, managed by Cheonan Museum, consists of the portrait of Yoo Hyukgol, who was awarded the second rank of Meritorious Retainer for suppressing the Yi Gwal Rebellion in 1624, along with its dedicated storage chest. After the portrait of the meritorious retainer was painted in 1625, his descendants continued to pass down its history. The portrait follows the typical iconography of a 17th-century meritorious official, depicting him seated, wearing a court hat and robe, with both hands clasped together. The chest features a haechi (mythical animal) rank badge on the chest and a hakjeongdae (belt denoting the second senior rank) around the waist. Unlike previous portraits, this work uses thin lines on a brown face and applies gold wave patterns to the background of the rank badge. The National Heritage Administration evaluated, "The fact that the original chest containing the portrait has been preserved together makes it of high academic value."

Portrait of Yun Jeung

Meanwhile, the National Heritage Administration has decided to add two items to the existing National Treasure "Portraits of Yoon Jung": one is a copy painted in 1885 by Lee Hancheol, and the other is a Yeongdang Gijeok (record of the shrine) from an earlier period. The Yoon Jung family continued to invite the best artists of their time to reproduce the portraits and recorded these processes in the Yeongdang Gijeok. The National Heritage Administration stated, "Through these copies, it is possible to observe the changing artistic styles of each era, giving them great significance in the history of art."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.