White Porcelain Water Dropper in the Shape of a Mythical Lion in Underglaze Iron

Joseon Period (19th Century)

This water dropper is modeled as a haetae — the mythical lion-like creature of Korean tradition — depicted in a crouching posture with its mouth open wide. The surface details are rendered in carved relief, and the mane, beard, tail, and eyes are painted in underglaze iron pigment (cheolsa) with precise, expressive strokes. Produced at the Bunwon-ri kiln during the nineteenth century, this piece stands in vivid contrast to the celadon-blue (cheongchae) wares with which the kiln is equally associated, and represents an outstanding example of the iron-pigment (cheolchae) tradition — a work that commands admiration for the vitality of its modeling and the quality of its execution.