Water dropper in the form of a duck, holding a spray of lotus in its bill. Three spur-marks.
Clay: hard, dense.
Glaze: pale gray-green celadon; crackled. Touches of black in eyes and bill.
Decoration: details of plumage are incised under glaze.
Label:
Koryo potters were masters at sculpting water droppers in the forms of birds, animals, and human figures. The vessels supplied water for the process of making ink by grinding a stick of ink on an inkstone.
Provenance:
To 1909
Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1909 [1]
From 1909 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1909 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] Undated folder sheet note. See Original Pottery List, L. 1913, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[2] See note 1.
[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History:
Rediscovering Korea’s Past (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)
Korean Ceramics of the Koryo Dynasty (May 9, 1993 to August 7, 2011)
Korean Art (May 9, 1993 to January 29, 1997)
Korean Art (December 17, 1984 to June 23, 1986)
Korean Art (March 20, 1982 to 2 April 1984)
Korean Art (June 4, 1982 to September 23, 1982)
Korean Art (July 15, 1981 to September 15, 1981)
Korean Art (March 20, 1980 to March 3, 1981)
Korean Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to October 13, 1978)
Korean Art (November 2, 1959 to November 22, 1971)
Untitled Exhibition, Korean Art, 1958 (July 10, 1958 to April 15, 1959)
Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 16 (February 25, 1956 to July 11, 1958)
Untitled Exhibition, The Japan Society, February 1914 (February 1914)
Previous custodian or owner:
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)
