Antique Korean Joseon Blue Glazed Fish Water Dropper #5489

width: approx. 7.8 cm (3.07 in)
height: approx. 2.5 cm (0.98 in)
weight: approx. 127g (w/box 203g)

This Korean Joseon dynasty water dropper is modeled in the form of a fish and covered with a rich blue glaze often referred to as “ruri” glaze. The sculpted body features carefully carved scales that rise across the surface, creating a textured pattern where the glaze pools and light naturally emphasizes the relief. Variations in the blue glaze highlight the three-dimensional surface, producing a subtle visual landscape formed during the firing process.

The fish’s eye, fins, and facial features are delicately modeled, blending sculptural detail with functional ceramic design. Two small openings—one on the back for filling and another at the mouth for dispensing water—indicate its use as a traditional water dropper for grinding ink in calligraphy practice.

Such fish-shaped water droppers were used on scholars’ desks as part of the writing set, adding both practicality and decorative presence. The interaction between the carved scale pattern and the flowing blue glaze creates an expressive surface valued by collectors of Korean ceramics and scholars’ objects. This piece reflects the refined craftsmanship of Joseon period pottery and the aesthetic harmony between utility and sculptural form often appreciated in traditional Korean ceramic art.