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Celadon facts for kids

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Pot tripode Musée Guimet 2418
Celadon ceramic pot

Celadon is a special term used for ceramics, which are objects made from clay and then hardened by heat. It refers to both a unique type of glaze (a shiny coating on pottery) and the beautiful color this glaze creates. Celadon pottery often has a lovely green or bluish-green color, like jade.

The Story of Celadon Pottery

Celadon pottery first appeared in China many, many years ago. It became very popular during different Chinese dynasties, especially the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). Potters in places like the Longquan kiln in Zhejiang province were famous for making incredible celadon pieces.

How Celadon Got Its Start

The earliest celadon glazes were developed in China around the 2nd century AD. Potters discovered how to make a special glaze that would turn green when fired in a very hot kiln (a type of oven for pottery). This green color came from tiny amounts of iron in the clay and glaze. When heated in a low-oxygen environment, the iron turned green.

Celadon's Journey Across Asia

Over time, the amazing art of making celadon spread from China to other regions in Asia. Countries like Japan, Korea, and Thailand learned the techniques and started making their own beautiful celadon pottery. Each country added its own unique style and designs to the celadon tradition.

Korean Celadon: A Special Style

In Korea, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 AD), celadon reached new heights. Korean potters developed a special technique called sanggam. This involved carving designs into the clay, filling the carvings with white or black clay slip, and then covering it with the celadon glaze. This created stunning inlaid patterns, often featuring cranes, clouds, or flowers.

Japanese and Thai Celadon

Japan also adopted celadon techniques, creating elegant pieces often used in tea ceremonies. In Thailand, particularly in the Sukhothai Kingdom and Lanna Kingdom, celadon production flourished. Thai celadon often featured unique patterns and shapes, showing the local artistic touch.

The Magic Behind Celadon's Color

The distinctive color of celadon comes from the way it's made. The glaze contains a small amount of iron oxide. During the firing process in the kiln, the temperature is very high, and the amount of oxygen inside the kiln is carefully controlled. This special environment causes the iron to change, creating the beautiful range of greens, blues, and even brownish-greys that celadon is known for.

Why So Many Shades of Green?

The exact shade of celadon depends on several things:

  • The amount of iron in the glaze.
  • The specific temperature of the kiln.
  • How much oxygen is in the kiln during firing.
  • The type of clay used for the pottery itself.

This is why you can see celadon pieces that are a pale, misty green, a deep olive green, or even a soft, sky-blue color. Each piece is unique!

Images for kids

  • Boddhisattva Guanyin, China, Ming dynasty, 1300-1400 AD, porcelain - Östasiatiska museet, Stockholm - DSC09644

    Ming shrine, the figure left unglazed in the "biscuit" state

  • Grès chinois Guimet 231102

    Yaozhou ware bowl with carved and combed decoration, Northern Song dynasty

  • 北宋汝窯青瓷無紋水仙盆 (cropped)

    Narcissus basin with light bluish-green glaze, Ru ware, National Palace Museum.

  • Japanese Kyoyaki Celadon 1800s

    Kyō ware vase, 19th century

  • Korea - Seoul - National Museum - Incense Burner 0252-06a

    Censer with kingfisher glaze, Goryeo Dynasty (National Treasure No. 95)

  • Korea-Ganggin Goryeo Celadon Kiln Sanggam 4801&2-06a

    Sanggam engraving inlaid design of a crane (left), scraping off excess clay slip, used to fill in the engraving (right)

  • Golakowska 001

    Ceramic ware covered with celadon glaze, by Wanda Golakowska, Poland, 2nd half of 20th century

  • Yue ware with motif 3rd century Western Jin Zhejiang

    Yue ware bowl, 3rd century CE, Western Jin, Zhejiang.

  • Porcelaine chinoise Guimet 231103

    Yaozhou ware, Shaanxi province, Song Dynasty, 10th–11th century

  • Ru ware, Percival David Collection DSCF3107

    Ru ware bowl, with metal rim, produced exclusively for the Northern Song emperors c. 1110–1125.

  • Bowl with foliate rim, Guan ware, China, Southern Song dynasty, 1100s-1200s AD, ceramic, celadon glaze - Tokyo National Museum - Tokyo, Japan - DSC08368

    Guan ware, Southern Song dynasty, 1100s–1200s AD

  • Spotted Celadon KONOIKE

    Flower vase with Iron Brown Spots (飛青磁花生), Longquan kiln, Yuan Dynasty, 13–14th century (National Treasure)

  • Ceramic planter from the Ming Dynasty

    Longquan celadon from Zhejiang, Ming Dynasty, 14–15th century

  • Baekje Kingdom Celadon Ram (17992358222)

    Baekje kingdom's celadon, sheep object

  • 청자 어룡 모양 주전자

    Dragon turtle kettle, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century (National Treasure No. 61)

  • Goryeo Celadon

    Maebyeong vase with sanggam engraved cranes, hand carved Goryeo dynasty, (National Treasure No. 68)

  • Celadon Bowl with Inlaid Flower and Insect Design

    beautifully sanggam technique applied plate

  • Celadon Incense Burner with Girin Decoration

    Goryeo celadon incense burner with Girin mystic sacred animal lid on it

  • 청자 참외 모양 병

    Goryeo celadon of Korean Chamoe yellow water melon shaped motif

  • Celadon Cup and Saucer with Inlaid Chrysanthemum Design

    tea cup with flower inlays, Goryeo dynasty

  • Buan Celadon Museum 13-04867

    horibyeong, Korea celadon of Goryeo period

  • Celadon Lotus-shaped Water Dropper

    creative design of baby bamboo, virtue for scholars, water dropper for calligraphy, Seoye

  • Goryeo celadon ewer

    Goryeo celadon ewer or tea pot inside a cup

  • 백자 상감모란문 매병

    a step to the white porcelain, Goryeo celadon

  • 청자 거북이 모양 주자

    Pitcher in the shape of a Dragon Turtle, Goryeo dynasty, (National Treasure No. 96)

  • 청자 양각연화당초 상감모란문 은테 발

    inlay carved tea cup with silver lining, Goryeo celadon

  • 청자 양각갈대기러기문 정병

    Celadon Buddhist ritual sprinkler with phragmites and wild goose design in relief

  • Celadon Square Incense Burner with Ogre Mask Design in Relief

    incense burner, Goryeo Celadon

  • Celadon Incense Burner with Ogre Mask Design in Relief

    incense burner of Goryeo, celadon

  • Buan Celadon Museum 13-04863

    pillow, celadon

  • Celadon Dish with Inlaid Grape and Scroll Design

    celadon hand-carved inlaid and colored red, decorated with grapes

  • Goryeo dynasty box with crane & cloud design, Honolulu Museum of Art 3600.1

    Goryeo incense keeping case hand carved and inlaid with white and black, white cranes decorated

  • Korea-Goryeo Dynasty-Wine ewer in the shape of a seated immortal-01

    Korea Goryeo dynasty object of a seated immortal

  • Buan Celadon Museum 13-04878

    Badook, play go made with Goryeo celadon

  • Buan Celadon Museum 13-04875

    Celadon chairs, objects for calligraphy ceremony Seoye

  • Covered box containing oil bottle and four small covered boxes, Honolulu Museum of Art, 4939.1-6

    aromatic oil container with four other incense boxed

  • Bowl with molded and carved design of lotus, Korea, Gangjin kilns, Goryeo period, 1100-1250 AD, stoneware, celadon, glaze - Freer Gallery of Art - DSC04936

    molded and carved lotus, Gangjin kilns, 1100-1250 celadon

  • 청자 유개항아리

    Lidded Jar, Joseon dynasty (National Treasure No. 1071)

  • Goryeo celadon 12C Korean incense burner with a duck lid and lotus

    Goryeo celadon incense burner with duck lid on, 12th century, duck symbolizes a sacred guide to the sky on the way across a hwangcheon river after death

  • Bowl with Incised Peony Designs LACMA AC1997.252.1

    Bowl with incised peony designs, Sri Satchanalai, 15th century

  • Bottle with Two Shoulder Lugs LACMA M.84.213.59

    Bottle with two shoulder lugs, Sawankhalok, 15th century

  • Teapot, crackled white glaze ceramic - Lý dynasty, 11th-12th century AD - Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts - Hanoi, Vietnam - DSC05394

    Teapot, Lý dynasty period, 11th-12th century

  • MET 1996 476 O1

    Tea cup, Lý dynasty period, 11th-12th century

  • Vietnam 14th C - Celadon jar Museum of Asian Civilisation

    Green celadon jar, Trần dynasty period, 14th century

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Celadón para niños

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