Brush holder with lotus decoration, Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), mid-19th century. Porcelain with openwork design. H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Diam. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm). Hewitt Fund, 1911, 11.142.1 © 2000–2017 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Scholarly men of the Joseon dynasty collected and used tasteful accessories, such as this piece and the water droppers, for writing or painting. The lotus is an emblem of the Confucian scholar aptly used here to ornament an object for his study.