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Haetae Shaped Blue and White Porcelain Water Dropper browse these categories for related items... All Items: Korean: Ceramics: Blue and White: Pre 1900: item #804131 Please refer to our stock #0224 when inquiring.
$1050 |
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| Korean Scholar's Haetae Shaped Blue and White Porcelain Water Dropper. Haetae was a mythological sea creature capable of exhaling large quantities of water and therefore popular as a guardian against fire. Because it was believed that the Haetae could read minds, people felt obliged to keep their minds clean and pure in the presence of a Haetae and so he was also a symbol of justice and fairness that adorned the crowns of judges and the ends of the eaves of the King's palace, to remind the justices to judge fairly and to remind the King to rule compassionately without involving their personal feelings. When using this water dropper to mix his ink for painting and composition, the scholar would be inspired to clear his mind of impure thoughts and keep a high-minded attitude in his scholarly pursuits. 3w x 2d x 1.5h inches, 7.5w x 5d x 4h cm. Korean antique water droppers were prized by Korean scholars of yesterday, and are treasured by collectors of today. A scholar's water dropper was a symbol of his refinement and good taste. In keeping with the Korean Confucian gentleman's aesthetic, artifice and colorful designs that catered to base instincts were to be avoided, while a natural and deep respect for nature was to be upheld. | ||