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Octagonal Water Dropper Decorated with Flower Design
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A water dropper was an essential utensil for a literati man of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) in writing calligraphy. It was used to add water, by small drops, to an inkstone while grinding an ink stick. This work has a small spout in the shape of a cicada. This decorative element not only adds a sense of whimsical sensibility to this scholarly utensil, but also aims to symbolize the aspiration for scholarly achievement—as loud as the cicada’s song.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineOctagonal Water Dropper Decorated with Flower Design, late 1700s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Porcelain with blue and white decoration; height: 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Dudley P. Allen Fund, 2024.37
