Water dropper in the shape of a butterfly c. late 19th century

This is an anonymous water dropper in the shape of a butterfly, whose material is ceramic. In East Asia, butterflies are a symbol of transformation and joy, and this water dropper would have been used in calligraphy practice, representing how something as profound as beautiful writing can come from a small, beautiful tool. There is something so poetic about the transformation of water into ink, and from the most humble of gestures comes a grand one. The anonymity of the artist also speaks to a different time, before the cult of the individual artist took hold, when so much of what we know of artistic production was collaborative and without a single name attached to it. The butterfly as a motif is also a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it, and the water dropper reminds us that even the smallest actions can make a big difference.