In addition to the brush, ink, paper and ink stone, the dripper is regarded as the fifth treasure of a scholar’s study. It is used by scholars or artists to dilute the ink before they create ink works.
Here is a Yue ware celadon dripper, dating back to the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316). It is in the shape of a resting rabbit, with an opening on the back. The rabbit has two round eyes, two ears, one tail and four stout limbs. A small cup is held in its mouth as a spout.
The dripper is part of the permanent collection of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.