Blue-and-white Inkstone
Dropper in the Shape of 
a Bird
Hsuan-te period (A.D. 1426-
1435)
Ming Dynasty
        This dropper in the 
shape  of a  male mandarin 
duck  is hollow inside and 
has  a  round  hole in the 
back.    It  incorporates a 
flat-topped  dropper  spout 
with  a  round  head,  the 
small hole in which controls 
the water dripping on to 
the  inkstone.     It  is 
painted  throughout  with 
plumage  and  ripple motifs 
in fresh,  rich  blue-and-
white, and bears the Hsuan-
te reign mark.