Water dropper in the shape of a girl, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century. Celadon, Gangjin or Buan kilns. Height 11.2 cm; Width 6 cm ; Weight 234g. Gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection, 00130. Photo MUDA Tomohiro. © The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

During the peak period of Goryeo celadon, products included beautiful stationery in the form of human and animal figures. This work, a water dropper in the shape of a young girl, is one of the fine examples. The water can be filled in from the top of her head by removing her chignon in the shape of a lotus bud, and poured out from the spout which is the bottle she is carrying. Her eyes are dotted in iron brown paint and her clothes and the bottle are elaborately incised with flower motifs. Lee Gyubo, a literati of the Goryeo period, expressed in his poem: "The young, innocent child in a blue attire with a smooth, beautiful skin, the way she bends her knees is so reverent, her feature so clear-cut, never becoming weary of it the whole day, I will hold it up and offer the drops of water..." (Donggukisangkukjip Vol.13). His poem suggests how the celadon water droppers were cherished by the literati at that time.