Lot 182, Auction 4/3/2026: Korean Joseon Blue-Glazed Fish Water Dropper & Vase

$1,105.00

In stock

East Asia, Korea, Joseon Dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. A charming pair of blue-glazed porcelain vessels from the late Joseon dynasty, comprising a fish-shaped water dropper and a bud vase, both showcasing the technical refinement and symbolic grace of Korean ceramic art. The water dropper, modeled in the form of a plump fish with stylized scales and rounded fins, bears two small openings for filling and pouring water – an indispensable tool for the scholar’s desk, used in preparing ink for calligraphy and painting. The fish, a frequent motif in Joseon art, symbolized abundance, perseverance, and scholarly tranquility. Its softly rounded contours are accentuated by a lustrous cobalt-blue glaze, pooling richly in the recessed details and thinning to reveal lighter hues across raised surfaces. The companion vase, of elegant bulbous form with a slender neck and small mouth, complements the dropper in both color and simplicity. Size of larger (vase): 3.1″ Diameter x 4″ H (7.9 cm x 10.2 cm); of custom box: 10.5″ L x 4.5″ W x 3.5″ H (26.7 cm x 11.4 cm x 8.9 cm)

Its smooth surface displays the same deep, watery blue glaze, mottled with delicate tonal variations that capture the aesthetic restraint of the Confucian scholar’s world.

Blue-glazed porcelain was a distinctive and technically challenging innovation within the broader Joseon ceramic tradition, valued for its subtle play of light and texture. Together, these vessels embody the era’s harmony between utility and artistry – functional yet deeply poetic expressions of the Korean spirit. Housed in a fitted silk-lined presentation box, the pair represents not only the enduring refinement of Joseon craftsmanship but also the quiet beauty of the scholar’s pursuit of harmony and contemplation.

Condition: Both have some light surface wear as shown, but otherwise, both are intact and very nice. Encrustations to foot of vase. Accompanied by custom silk-lined box.

Provenance: private California, USA collection acquired prior to 2005

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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