Meiping vase, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century. Celadon with carved lotus design. Height 32.1cm; Mouth Diameter 21.8cm; Weight 3,080g. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection), 00017, photograph by 六田知弘 © The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka.

A meiping vase has a small mouth, a large swollen shoulder which tapers toward the bottom. The body line making an S-shape curve and slightly flaring out just above the foot as well as the solid, subdued form seem to have moved apart from the Chinese influences and developed into the original Korean style. The upper half of the body bears cloud patterns and the lower section has a band of lotus petals. The main motifs are aibika and lotus flowers, all elaborately carved. Meiping vases had been believed to be water or wine containers but recent underwater archaeological research revealed that it was also used to hold or carry honey and sesame oil.