<em>Water Dropper</em>, 19th century. Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration, 2 3/4 x 2 1/2in. (7 x 6.4cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. John P. Lyden, 79.273.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 79.273.2_top_PS11.jpg)

Water Dropper, 19th century. Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration, 2 3/4 x 2 1/2in. (7 x 6.4cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. John P. Lyden, 79.273.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 79.273.2_top_PS11.jpg)

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How does one use this square water dropper and what do you use it for?

If you look closely, there is a small hole in the porcelain, that would allow the scholar to drip a single drop of water onto an ink stone. Ink was sold in solid blocks that needed to be moistened in 19th century Korea. It was filled by submerging it in a pot of water.

This was used by a member of the elite literati class, who dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge.

What is a water dropper?

A water dropper was used to wet ink stones or blocks that needed to be moistened so that scholars could pick up the pigment with a brush to write. If you look closely, each one has a small hole at the top that would drip the water out when inverted.

Water Dropper

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor

MEDIUM Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration

Place Made: Korea

DATES 19th century

DYNASTY Joseon Dynasty

DIMENSIONS 2 3/4 x 2 1/2in. (7 x 6.4cm) Diameter at mouth: 1/2 in. (1.3 cm) Diameter at base: 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 79.273.2

CREDIT LINE Gift of Dr. John P. Lyden

EXHIBITIONS

Arts of Korea

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor

CAPTION Water Dropper, 19th century. Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration, 2 3/4 x 2 1/2in. (7 x 6.4cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. John P. Lyden, 79.273.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 79.273.2_top_PS11.jpg)

IMAGE top, 79.273.2_top_PS11.jpg., 2017

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

How does one use this square water dropper and what do you use it for?

This was used by a member of the elite literati class, who dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge.

What is a water dropper?