Dehua-kiln, white-glaze porcelain water dropper with seated Guanyin figure

A water dropper, also known as an ink dropper, was a stationery item used by ancient literati to hold and drip water onto an inkstone while grinding ink. Porcelain water droppers were first produced during the Six Dynasties period and gained popularity during the Song and Yuan dynasties, with designs primarily featuring fruits and animal shapes.