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Chinese Late Qing Green Figural Water Dropper, Drunken Immortal stock #JWHdruH20Dr
Antique Chinese ceramic water dropper modeled as Li Tieguai, the Drunken Immortal of Daoist tradition. Rendered in a vivid green glaze associated with southern coastal kilns, the figure reclines on his right elbow with eyes closed, a wine vessel resting across his midsection and a sword strapped along his back. When filled, water would have been dispensed through the small opening at the mouth of the vessel to moisten an inkstone as needed for writing or painting. The open interior cavity also allows the piece to function as a small brush washer, a dual use commonly found in late Qing scholar’s tools.
The dropper measures 4" long and 3.25" high. Produced in a folk-kiln environment, it retains characteristic firing features: two kiln-contact clay nodules appear beneath the glaze on the front and back where it touched adjacent wares during firing. A minor glaze flake is present at the front. No cracks or repairs.
Late Qing to Early Republic Period, circa 1880–1930.
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