Image from book page 233
Lián Péng Shuǐ Chéng
Healing hands shaped this lotus into clay.
Crafted in 1952 while master potter Gu Jingzhou was recovering from tuberculosis, this lotus seed pod water dropper is as much a personal story as it is a work of art. During his convalescence, Gu immersed himself in tending lotus flowers, and that devotion poured directly into this intimate little vessel. The result is a piece that feels alive — textured, organic, and quietly poetic.
A 'water dropper' (水丞) isn't a teapot at all — it's a tiny vessel used to drip precise amounts of water onto an inkstone when preparing ink for traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, making it a beloved tool of scholars and artists.
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Original Chinese Text 原文
顾景舟有非常丰富的种养荷花的经验，他家的花开得美是出了各的 。 1952 年 ，顾景舟患肺结核在家乡和戒烟养病,种花养鱼 ,寄情于花鸟鱼虫 ， “医鞍水簿”就是这期间制作的 。 “水簿”以寺莲为形， 形象生动 . 纹路台真 ，是顾景舟花器的代表作 ， 顾景舟一生清高有节， 尤其爱莲,制作“莲莲水簿", 或将自己比作莲心 ， 藏之莲蓬,隐喻低调为人; 抑或洁身自好 ,要求自己像荷花出淤泥而不染 。