celadon

American  

[sel-uh-don, -dn] / ˈsɛl əˌdɒn, -dn /

noun

1. any of several Chinese porcelains having a translucent, pale green glaze.

2. any porcelain imitating these.

3. a pale gray-green.

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adjective

1. having the color celadon.

celadon British  

/ ˈsɛləˌdɒn /

noun

1. a type of porcelain having a greyish-green glaze: mainly Chinese

2. a pale greyish-green colour, sometimes somewhat yellow

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Etymology

Origin of celadon

First recorded in 1760–70; named after Céladon, name of a character in L' Astrée, a tale by Honoré d'Urfé (1568–1625), French writer

Example Sentences

Spotting the vases, he chipped the encrustation off one of them and was convinced what he was holding in his hands was celadon, an extremely valuable East Asian stoneware characterized by its beautiful blue-green glaze.

From Literature

Upstairs, the exhibition highlights 19th-century innovations, including the introduction of colored porcelain in celadon, and enameled, painted and gilded pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal

Behind him, a young servant arrives with a snack, while books and a celadon vase have been laid out for study on a nearby table.

From Los Angeles Times

Though it was her subtle way with black leather — coats, pinafores, pleated skirts — and the ruffled celadon silks that lingered.

From New York Times

The salon beyond is painted in celadon — another shade often employed by Castaing — that took days to get right, and is ornamented with trompe l’oeil marble columns.

From New York Times