1. Ceramic Consumption of the Joseon Royal Court 

The royal court of the Joseon Dynasty produced ceramics with different forms and decorative motifs in accordance with the pertinent state systems and used them for their relevant purposes. In the mid-fifteenth century, the court established official court kilns, known as bunwon, responsible for the production of porcelain items required by the state for both everyday and ceremonial purposes. The exterior surfaces of these white porcelain ware were ornamented with designs such as dragons or peony blossoms as a display of the authority of the court. For the efficient management of the bunwon products, the name of the office of its intended use and the production year were sometimes inscribed on the base. However, by the late Joseon period bunwon was no longer capable of meeting royal needs, and locally produced goods eventually had to give way to imported ceramics. Imported ceramic containers used for storing cosmetic products have been uncovered from the tombs of eighteenth-century Joseon royal family members, demonstrating that the range of ceramics available to the court had expanded by this point.

2. Background of the Embrace of Imported Ceramics by the Royal Court

In 1876, Joseon was forced by Japan to conclude the Korea-Japan Treaty, which marked a dramatic change in Joseon diplomatic policies. In order to manage this new state of international affairs and establish a solid footing as a sovereign nation, Joseon had to reinvent itself as a modern state meeting Western standards. The Joseon government dispatched research teams to Japan, China, and the United

States with the aim of learning about the systems and culture of other nations. Joseon also participated in the World Exposition, a gathering of nations from across the world where their products could be showcased. This led Joseon to become acutely aware of the need to adopt modern technologies. As Joseon embraced a full-fledged enlightenment with the aim of becoming a modern state recognized in international society, Western-style spaces emerged inside and ouside the royal palaces and ceramics imported from around the world were introduced to parts of the royal court. 

3. Ceramic Gifts Exchanged between Joseon and France

In 1886, Joseon and France signed a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation known as the Korea-France Treaty of 1886. France, which took great pride in its arts, offered a gift of ceramics to Joseon to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations and the appointment of its first consul, Victor Collin de Plancy (1853–1922). These porcelain vases were produced at the National Manufoactory of Sèvres of France. King Gojong reciprocated with two Goryeo celadon bowls dating to the twelfth century and a pair of Flowering Tree in the Pot, known as a banhwa. This was the first time for Joseon to exchange diplomatic gifts of ceramics with the West. The gifts of ceramics symbolically reflect Joseon’s transition into a modern state in the face of new diplomatic relations.

4. Western-style Banquets and Tableware

In the late nineteenth century, Joseon began to recognize the international order led by the West and the need to quickly establish the framework for a sovereign state. To this end, Joseon sought to accommodate Western culture and modern systems. It also sought to maintain its position within the tumultuous state of international affairs by developing strong relationships with diplomats from other nations. During this process, social gatherings, which served as platforms for international dialogue, rose in importance, and preparations of the venue, furniture, and tableware became a weighty task for the Joseon royal court. Western-style structures were built, and furniture and ceramics were imported to establish grounds for interacting with and winning favor from foreign diplomatic delegations. The ceramics imported and used by the royal court were the product of this determination to resolve the deep concerns faced by the Joseon Dynasty during its transitional modern period.

5. Imported Vases That Adorned the Royal Court

Western-style buildings were constructed at the end of the nineteenth century to serve the needs of the Joseon court, and they were decorated with large vases in types that enjoyed worldwide popularity at the time. This was part of the efforts to embrace modern styles and culture. The Joseon royal court decorated the interiors of its palaces with Japanese and Chinese vases ranging from sixty to ninety centimeters in height. The Japanese vases, which were industrial porcelain wares produced for export purposes between the 1880s and 1910s, had been introduced to the West through World Expositions, giving rise to a Japonisme movement characterized by an admiration of Japanese aesthetics. They also purchased large Chinese yangcai (洋彩; literally Western colors) wares featuring painted decoration in vitreous enamel glaze inspired by European cloisonné. The enameled cloisonné ceramic wares imported during the late Joseon period were originally created to suit the tastes and lifestyles of the Peranakans, people of Chinese origin living on or around the Malay Peninsula. Peranakan porcelain is typified by decorations in motifs including peony blossoms and mythical birds known as bonghwang, mainly painted in tones of pink and light green. Cloisonné ceramic wares decorated with overglaze enamel had long been recognized by states in Asia, as high-end crafts, and therefore the Peranakan-style porcelain was accepted without much difficulty as a means to enhance the authority of the royal court during the late Joseon period.