celadon

Celadon refers to a family of ceramic wares that are coated with a pale to gray-green glaze. The glaze is typically glossy and may crackle, producing a network of fine lines. Color and transparency vary with glaze composition, body material, and firing conditions. Although commonly associated with a green hue, celadon can range from pale sea-green to olive.

Celadon has strong associations with Chinese ceramic history. It is linked to wares produced for centuries in kilns such as Yue (modern Zhejiang) and Longquan, with the craft reaching high refinement during the Song dynasty (960–1279). The glaze results from iron oxide in a reducing firing atmosphere, often enhanced by copper to yield the characteristic green tones. The familiar jade-green surface and smooth, glassy finish became a hallmark of East Asian ceramic prestige.

The celadon tradition spread beyond China and influenced neighboring regions. Korea produced its own renowned celadon wares during the Goryeo period (12th–14th centuries), noted for refined shapes and inlay techniques. Japanese and Southeast Asian potters also explored celadon glazes, contributing regional stylistic variations within the broader celadon family.

Etymology is European in origin. The word celadon describes this green glaze and wares in Western languages and was adopted in the 17th–18th centuries to refer to Chinese green-glazed ceramics. Today, celadon remains a valued aesthetic in both historic collection and contemporary ceramic practice.