Octagonal Water Dropper Decorated with Flower Design (late 1700s): Art, History and Details

Octagonal Water Dropper Decorated with Flower Design (late 1700s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the 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.

Object facts

• Title: Octagonal Water Dropper Decorated with Flower Design
• Date: late 1700s
• Culture: Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
• Type: Ceramic
• Technique: Porcelain with blue and white decoration
• Dimensions: height: 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.)
• Collection: Korean Art
• Department: Korean Art
• Accession number: 2024.37

A detail from the museum

A small spout in the shape of a cicada is placed on one of the octagonal sides. This decorative element not only adds a sense of whimsical aesthetic sensibility to this scholarly utensil, but also aims to symbolize the aspiration for scholarly achievement—as loud as the cicada’s song.

Collection credit

Dudley P. Allen Fund

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.