{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O102833"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102833/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF9200/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF9200/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF9200","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MR7141","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O102833/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O102833","accessionNumber":"1857-1888","objectType":"Water dropper","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Chinese scholars liked to use writing accessories made of jade, because Confucius praised jade as 'the embodiment of virtue'. This jade water dropper in the form of a lotus leaf would have carried an additional meaning. The lotus had always been seen as a flower that 'remained unstained by the muddy surrounding', thus a symbol of uncompromised integrity. The water dropper was an important utensil in the scholar's studio. Each time the scholar composed a literary work he needed to produce ink by grinding an ink cake on an inkstone, adding a small amount of water during the process.","physicalDescription":"Brush washer in the form of a lotus leaf with pod of grey-green jade and brown markings.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"jade","id":"AAT11119"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nephrite jade with carved decoration","categories":[{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Hardstone","id":"THES270137"}],"styles":[{"text":"Song-Yuan","id":"x30989"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BF9200","2020MR7141"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"027","id":"THES362094"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Water dropper","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"13th/ 14th Century","earliest":"1300-01-01","latest":"1400-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Thomas Watters Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Mr. Thomas Watters, accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nGiven by Thomas Watters, Esq.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Scu, China, carving, jade","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Craig Clunas 13/08/1986: see entry for 1623-1882, closely comparable to this piece, and the discussion on the probability of a Southern Song date.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"蓮葉","id":"CIT280663"},{"text":"蓮房","id":"CIT280833"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1857-1888"],"accessionNumberNum":"1857","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1888,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-18","recordCreationDate":"2004-08-26","availableToBook":true}}