Blue-and-white octagonal water dropper with floral design
Korean
Description
Subject Matter:
Water droppers were a necessary stationery items for scholars. They were produced in various shapes and sizes and featured a variety of decorative motifs in the late Joseon period. This particular dropper has a flower motif.
Physical Description:
It is in the shape of a flat disk with octagonal sides, a type that was widely produced in the 19th century. The center of the top surface features a flower petal in a darkish cobalt blue pigment. A pale blue glaze applied over the entire surface, but has a slightly hue. The pigment used on the flower is also applied around the edgesof the octagon, more heavily so in the corners.
This water dropper was produced at a kiln in Bunwon-ri, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do at the end of 19th century. Its upper surface features an outline painted around the edge and a floral spray design in the center, both rendered in cobalt blue. The design is bluish black in color, a phenomenon sometimes caused by high iron and manganese content in the cobalt underglaze. The water dropper remains intact, except for a slight damage to its spout. The sand spur marks left around the foot are often found on white porcelain produced at private kilns within the vicinity of Bunwon-ri area after the privatization of Bunwon-ri kilns.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2014) p.183]
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