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The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage conducted an underwater excavation in the seas off Mado Island, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do in 2010 and found two prunus vases (maebyeong in Korean) along with more than 400 other objects. These vases were recognized for their esthetic and historical value and designated as treasures last year. To commemorate and publicize this occasion, the Institute organized a special exhibition, ”Fragrant Vases: Beautiful Maebyeong and Useful Jun”.

Prunus vases have been the most typical and familiar form of ceramic ware to most of us, so many people think of them when recalling Goryeo celadon. However, until now, there have not been any exhibitions conceived on the theme of prunus vases, despite the increase of relevant studies that have been conducted recently. Thus, this exhibition is significant in that it is the very first one to be held exclusively on prunus vases. From the excavation, the staffs in the institute discovered that maebyeong were called jun in the Goryeo period and they were used for storing and transporting honey or sesame oil, in contrast to what we thought were used for storing wine or as an object for esthetic appreciation. We used “Beautiful Maebyeong and Useful Jun” in the title of this exhibition to reflect vase’s utility and their types of decoration.

This exhibition features more than 30 pieces of prunus vase. We could not bring together all maebyeong for many reasons, but viewers will nonetheless be able to see the varied shapes, sizes and colors of glaze that each one has and the distinct linear beauty of maebyeong .