Bowl, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century. Marbled céladon. Height 5.2cm; Mouth Diameter 14cm; Weight 200g. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection), 00190, photograph by 六田知弘 © The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka.

In China, marbling was usually done by using two kinds of clay and after the work was formed, it was covered with yellow or brown glaze, whereas in Goryeo they used three types - celadon, white and red clay - and the work was covered with a celadon glaze before firing. Multiple types of clay in different colors folded together unevenly under the glaze produce a unique, beautiful grain pattern. A shard of a similar work was excavated from the Sadang-ri kiln in Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do.