Water Dropper in the Shape of a Frog

Water Dropper

Water dropper in the shape of a thick frog. Light-blue iridescent color. The frogmouth builds the spout, the pouring is in the middle of the backside.

Object ID
Korea_030

Age
Early Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1910 AD)

Material
Ceramics

Color
white & light blue

Height
5.7 cm

Width
6 cm

Length
8 cm

Condition
Very Good

Price
on request

Description

The water dropper has the shape of a frog. He is sitting with his head lifted up and has high modulated protruding open eyes. The frogmouth builds the spot, the pouring is in the middle of the backside. The spherical body runs into an oval shape and attached legs. The color is light-blue iridescent, eyes, legs, toes and mouth contours are outlined. The middle of the mouth is highlighted with rost-colored paint. The uneven performance areas of the paws are unglazed. Only those animal shapes were suitable for design which could be transformed into containers.
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] In the Joseon Dynasty white ware became fashionable. Many of the ceramics were probably made for bureaus of the Government or for wealthy private persons and scholars. [2] (HV)

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[1] Chang, Ki-hoon (2000): Wassertropfer. In: Handbuch der koreanischen Kunst. Steinzeug und Seladon. Tübingen. 112-119
[2] Lee, Soyoung. “In Pursuit of White: Porcelain in the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chpo/hd_chpo.htm (October 2004)