Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 17

Rare Korean Water Dropper in Doughnut Form Joseon Dynasty

$8,600
£6,525.48
€7,461.31
CA$12,011.87
A$13,355.56
CHF 6,973.54
MX$162,569.72
NOK 88,979.31
SEK 83,369.36
DKK 55,685.09
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A Korean blue and white porcelain water dropper in a rare hallowed out doughnut shape from Joseon Dynasty circa 1800s. The octagonal water dropper is covered in a brilliant white glaze with blue underglaze painting. The scenery depicts a wooded hilly landscape with figures crossing on a bridge-like structure under abstract forms of mountains and oceans. On four out of the eight side walls, four Bagua divination trigrams were painted, suggesting this might be one of the pair made, as the other one would carry the complimentary trigrams. The short sprout and the refill air hole are on the opposite side. Water droppers in this form was much desired in Joseon time, but they were difficult to make technically and not many are extant. This is a wonderful example, well-preserved. The piece was probably made in late 18th, possibly early 19th century as the Bagua trigrams motif was most popular during middle to late 18th century, but the scenery painting suggests a slightly later period. The recessed foot ring bears some kiln marks and glaze defects as shown. The water dropper was from a Japanese collection. It comes with a wood tomobako storage box with a paper label that read "Li Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain Water Dropper". Water droppers are small containers made from different materials such as ceramic and metal. It was used by scholars to add drops of water onto the ink stone when preparing for calligraphy. Over time, these small pieces evolved into miniature art with various sculptural form. For a water dropper in a similar octagonal form with Bagua trigrams see item acc. no 21223 in the Ataka collection at the Musuem of Oriental Ceramics in Osaka, Japan. It is illustrated in pate 111 on page 147 in the book "The Radiance of Jade and the Clarity of Water".
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.62 in (4.1 cm)Diameter: 5.01 in (12.7 cm)
  • Style:
    Other (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Ceramic,Glazed
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    late 18th to early 19th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Fine condition with light surface wear, small glaze lines and ink stain. The base shows kiln mark and glaze defects as made. The box shows some wear.
  • Seller Location:
    Atlanta, GA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU945038966532

More From This Seller

View All
Korean Ceramic Water Dropper Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Korean ceramic water dropper in square form on four corner feet, circa 19th century late Joseon Dynasty. The piece features an underglaze blue pa...
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Fine Antique Korean Ceramic Water Dropper Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine porcelain water dropper from Korea circa 19th century of the late Joseon Dynasty. Water dropper is one of the essential scholar objects in the Confucius Joseon society where ink calligraphy was considered an important cultivation of an educated man. The water dropper is a small contained made to drop the water onto the ink stone to grind the ink stick for writing. These miniature objects were made in various forms as little wonders as a desktop accessory for the Scholar's study. The water dropper on offer was made of porcelain and covered in a grey celadon glaze. It was molded in the form of a beach with finely sculpted stalk and leaves. A slight red was dotted on the two openings. The surface also has a carved grape or pomegranate motifs under the glaze. There is some slightly running of the celadon glaze on top. The base has residues of kiln grits. Although the peach form was perhaps one of the most common ones among the Korean water droppers...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Korean Other Scholar's Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Korean Ceramic White Porcelain Water Dropper Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Korean water dropper in rectangular form with beveled edges, circa early 19th century of the Joseon Dynasty. The milky white porcelain pie...
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Other Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Korean Porcelain Water Dropper Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Korean ceramic water dropper in square form circa 19th century late Joseon Dynasty. It features an underglaze blue painting of a full cluster of ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Other Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Korean Ceramic Water Dropper in Dog Form Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely Korean ceramic water dropper in the form of a sitting dog circa 19th century late Joseon Dynasty. The charming animal form features underglaze blue paint outlining the furs ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Korean Ceramic Water Dropper in Frog Form
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Korean ceramic water dropper in the form of fog circa early 20th century likely from Japanese colonial time post 1910s. The animal form features under...
Category

Early 20th Century Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

You May Also Like

c. 1860 Qing Dynasty Chinese Jar Form Brush Washer
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1860 Chinese blue & white jar form brush washer. From the Qing Dynasty scholar's table. Porcelain. Landscape decoration. Rim chips. Chinese government antiques shop wax seal. 2...
Category

Antique 1860s Chinese Qing Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Ming 1620-1644 Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Incense Burner Decorated Bu
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Chinese blue and white porcelain incense burner. Pictured in the book of Tang Ying Academy about the Kosometsuke exhibition in the Jingdezhen Yanshan Art Museum. Also with beuatifu...
Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Circa 1860 Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Brush Washer
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1860 Chinese blue & white domed form brush washer. Porcelain. From the Qing Dynasty artist or scholar's table. Landscape decoration. 2" dia., 1 5/8" h. We are a family busines...
Category

Antique 1860s Chinese Qing Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Ho Ho Boy Water Dropper, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This curious object is a late 19th-century Chinese water dropper, a calligraphy accessory that would have been found upon a scholar's painting ta...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Mallet-Shaped Miniature Vase from Hatcher Collection
Located in Atlanta, GA
Miniature 17th century blue and white mallet-shaped vase. This miniature vase was part of a hoard recovered by Captain Michael Hatcher from the wreck of a ship that sunk in the Sou...
Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Blue and White Bird Feeder from the Hatcher Cargo
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small blue and white bird-feeder of circular form with short neck, one side set with two small loup handles, the base slightly pointed, painted with lotus heads growing from scroll...
Category

Antique 1640s Chinese Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain