When you think of antiques, its amazing to realize that this cup was being made at the same time the Bible was being written on the other side of the world.
High-fired grey stoneware was produced by the Silla kingdom as well as did the contemporary Baekje and Gaya states. Stoneware requires a high firing temperature (800°-1000° C), and this technology was, no doubt, connected to the furnaces required to produce iron in the Gaya confederation which was rich in that metal. The most common kiln type in Silla was the 'tunnel' or climbing' kiln, so-called because they were built into hillsides. They could be 60 feet long and 15 feet wide with shelving cut into the interior of the slope to stand pottery on and a chimney shaft dug to rise up the inside of the slope. There is no evidence of deliberate glazing in this period, although there are examples where accidental ash dropping from the kiln roof onto the pot did create a primitive glaze.
Silla Dynasty rare stoneware cup
This 4.5 inch pedestal cup is in the classic form that makes the Silla Dynasty so easily recognized. The dark stoneware color, four legged pedestal and simple formed handle, and simple incised designs are common throughout this famous class of very early Korean pottery.
Three small chips on the rim
So you don't miss it, I want to point out that there are three small chips on the rim of the cup, here pointed out with red arrows. This is very common in Silla stoneware and can be seen in museum display pieces. After all, this is more than 1,000 years old. It's survived very well.
This item comes with this Certificate of Origin