Joseon Dynasty blue and white peach-shaped water dropper

This is a water dropper in the shape of a peach, which was immensely popular during the late Joseon Dynasty. Since ancient times, the peach has been cherished as an auspicious fruit symbolizing longevity and eternal youth, and its lovely form was frequently incorporated into the designs of vessels. While there are various types of peach-shaped water droppers, this particular piece is finished exclusively in blue-and-white. Although it is simpler compared to more ornate examples embellished with cinnabar or other colors, the refined beauty of the white porcelain and blue pigment is all the more striking for it.

In this work, branches are wrapped around the full, rounded body of the peach, and these branches are extended to the base and looped into a circle, effectively serving as the foot rim itself. It is a charming yet ingenious design that does not merely copy the shape of a peach, but integrates the fruit and its supporting branches into a single, cohesive form.

The veins of the slender leaves attached to the branches are rendered in intaglio, where the accumulation of the blue-and-white pigment creates subtle gradations. The tip of the peach is also depicted using the shading of the blue pigment, with subtle variations in intensity accentuating the roundness of the fruit. The well-fired white porcelain is lustrous, and combined with the plump shape of the peach, it gives off a sense of freshness.

On the other hand, there is a professional repair (tomo-naoshi) to the spout. Additionally, there is a hairline crack running from the tip of the peach to slightly below the center. Both are marks of the long time that has passed, but they do not detract from the inherent loveliness of the vessel's form or the refreshing harmony of the white porcelain and blue-and-white glaze.

Unlike other peach-shaped water droppers that compete with vibrant colors, this piece offers a purity and quiet beauty that can only be felt because it is monochromatic. The plump shape of the peach as it rests in the palm of your hand is truly endearing, making this a piece that allows you to enjoy the playfulness characteristic of late Joseon Dynasty stationery.