Iron-glazed Prunus Vase with Inlaid Floral Design

As early as the seventh century, the practice of drinking tea and wine became an important part of elite culture in Korea. Once used to store alcoholic beverages, this type of vase features a wide body followed by a sharply rounded shoulder, a short neck, and a small opening. Most of the remaining examples no longer have a lid, but originally it may have had a lid that not only covered the opening, but also served as a cup. Against a brownish-sepia underglaze surface, three ginseng leaves with roots are inlaid with white slip, striking a modern, minimalistic style.