Water Dropper thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Water Dropper

1800-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Korean water droppers such as this formed part of a set of accoutrements necessary for writing and painting. Before using the brush, the writer would prepare the ink by grinding an ink stick on an ink stone with a few drops of water dispersed from the dropper.

The wide variety of shapes and designs that characterise water droppers of the 18th and 19th centuries displays the imagination and wit of their makers and consumers. This dropper is in the shape of a carp bringing its tail to meet its mouth.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain, thrown, carved, painted and glazed
Brief description
Cer, Korea, Choson, blue and white
Physical description
The small water dropper is carved to depict the eye, scales and tail of the fish.

Colour: Blue
Dimensions
  • Width: 6.7cm
Style
Object history
Purchased from Messrs. Kavanough & Co. (Seoul, Chosen, Korea), accessioned in 1912. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
Korean water droppers such as this formed part of a set of accoutrements necessary for writing and painting. Before using the brush, the writer would prepare the ink by grinding an ink stick on an ink stone with a few drops of water dispersed from the dropper.

The wide variety of shapes and designs that characterise water droppers of the 18th and 19th centuries displays the imagination and wit of their makers and consumers. This dropper is in the shape of a carp bringing its tail to meet its mouth.
Bibliographic references
  • Beth McKillop.
  • Korean Art and Design.
  • London: V&A,
  • 1992.
  • 38.
Collection
Accession number
C.341-1912

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2000
Record URL
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