This Chinese lead-glazed water-dropper, dating to the 14th century Yuan Dynasty, was produced at the Cizao kilns in Fujian province, a site known for its bold, utilitarian stonewares with vibrant glazes. Small in size and rounded in form, the vessel would have been used in the scholar’s studio, carefully dispensing droplets of water onto an inkstone during the meditative act of grinding ink.
The piece is coated in a vivid green lead glaze, which pools in recesses and breaks to warmer tones on raised edges—a hallmark of Cizao ware, where natural variation was embraced as part of the aesthetic. The glaze carries a slightly glassy, irregular surface, reflecting the low-fired, spontaneous character of the kilns that produced them.
Though modest, this water-dropper bridges daily function and personal ritual, embodying the Yuan-era blend of raw material honesty and scholar-gentleman refinement. Its form is humble, but its purpose—and its survival—connects us to the enduring traditions of literary culture and artistic practice in medieval China.
