| The Koreans have used potteries from 7000 to | | | | 1392) - during this epoch some of the best small |
| 8000 years ago. Since ancient times they used to | | | | scale works of ceramics were accomplished in |
| make pottery by firing clay at a heat of 1300 | | | | Korea. In this age the potters made foliate |
| degree Celsius. They produced unique, original and | | | | designs, key fret, geometric shapes, elliptical |
| beautiful pottery. They traded extensively with | | | | panels, stylized fishes and insects, and they |
| China and adopted manufacturing skills of Celadon. | | | | started using incised designs from this era. The |
| Korean pottery is healthy and alive due to its | | | | glazes used, were different shades of Celadon. |
| good natural disposition. The Korean potters | | | | For stoneware and storage goods they used |
| believed in nature and sought to be a part of it. | | | | black and brown glazes. |
| So they lived in deep recesses of mountains to | | | | 3. Korean pottery in Joseon dynasty (1392 to |
| give a natural touch to their wares and used | | | | 1910) - it can be called the golden era of Korean |
| simple colors with liberal techniques for molding | | | | pottery. The Korean ceramics developed to a |
| the clay prior to making the pottery. | | | | great extent and pottery was produced in a large |
| Korean pottery can be studied in terms of three | | | | commercial scale for export. The quality of the |
| empires. These three empires which present the | | | | pottery also improved considerably. They followed |
| foundation of Korean ceramic history also reflect | | | | the Chinese Ming Dynasty in evolving their |
| the culture of pottery during this era. These three | | | | improved range of pottery and they are similar in |
| kingdoms are - Silla, Goguryeo and Joseon. The | | | | certain aspects to the Chinese wares. Storage |
| Korean potters produced coarse household goods | | | | pottery, celadon, white porcelain were alike and |
| as well as highly sophisticated statues of imperial | | | | only with minimal variations either in glazes, |
| figures, guardians, horses, escorts of the dead in | | | | designs or weight. Ming influence was also felt in |
| mausoleum of kings, as well as nobility. | | | | the blue and white matter by using cobalt blue |
| 1. Korean pottery in the Silla era (668 to 935) - | | | | glazes. |
| the pottery was plain in color, design and | | | | After the fall of the Ming dynasty many Chinese |
| silhouette at the time of the unified Silla era. | | | | potters migrated to Korea and brought colorful |
| Celadon was the main produce. Gradually in the | | | | and vibrant pottery of special forms which was |
| 14th century Bakeja porcelain wares developed | | | | discarded by the Korean potters who preferred |
| which had vibrant varnish. These were made up | | | | to make simple and less bedecked wares. |
| of highly refined clay. Bakeja wares were fixed | | | | Korea exported most of its potteries to Japan |
| with feldspar and were very cautiously fired in | | | | and principally from the Busan area. The climbing |
| very huge and fresh kilns. Bakeja wares flourished | | | | kilns were exported to a considerable extent. |
| tremendously until the Joseon dynasty came to | | | | There were two ways of export- through deal |
| power. | | | | and intended immigration of potters or by the |
| 2. Korean pottery in the Goguryeo era (918 to | | | | means of invasion and pottery theft. |