Water Dropper in Fish-Shape

Water Dropper

Celadon glazed spiral-shaped fish with decorative tail and beautifully formed sheds. Inlet and outlet through rost-red dotted openings.

Object ID
Korea_033

Age
Koryō-Dynasty, 918 – 1392

Material
Ceramics

Color
Celadon green with rost-red accents

Height
2.3 cm

Length
7 cm

Width
6 cm

Condition
Very Good

Price
on request

Description

Spiral-shaped fish in celadon. It has beautifully formed sheds and a decorative caudal fin. The fishback has decorative rounded edges. Two openings on the tail and body build pouring and spout . They appear like eyes and are surrounded by rost-red dots. The whole water dropper is covered with craquelures. The light-brown glazed bottom bears three burning-supports.

Such a water dropper belonged to the writing-utensils. In this regard it was very popular to produce imaginative vessels for example in the form of animals. After the filling with water the vessel is placed upright. In order to dose the amount of water to thin the ink precisely, the writer has to place his finger on the top opening. [1] Only such animal figures were suitable for design which could be transformed into small containers. (HV)

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[1] Chang, Ki-hoon (2000): Wassertropfer. In: Handbuch der koreanischen Kunst. Steinzeug und Seladon. Tübingen. 112-119