Fashionable Pottery – Burnished Red Pottery and Pottery with an Eggplant Motif

The earthenware in the corner of the exhibition room was produced on the Korean Peninsula during the late Bronze Age. The style of pottery underwent a small change between the 3rd century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. There were almost no changes in the features and appearance of the pottery; however, there was a gradual development of the techniques and materials employed in the manufacturing process.

The pottery we have seen so far is known as ‘plain pottery’ due to the absence of any decoration.

Compared to the early, crude, plain pottery, these pieces were produced using more complicated techniques. They were made of fine clay and a layer of colored mud. This process required an additional firing, and produced pottery with a smooth texture and vivid color. The bright red earthenware on the right is called ‘burnished red pottery’. The pottery on the left is known as ‘pottery with an eggplant design’ due to the black patterns on the vessels.

The change in appearance of the pottery was inspired by a change in purpose. This type of earthenware was designed not only for everyday use, but also as a funerary accessory. The men of power at that time put a greater emphasis on the external beauty of earthenware in order to highlight their prestige. Thus this pottery provides evidence of the existence of a hierarchy in Bronze Age society.