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A large “Immortals” vase Of tianqiuping form, the globular body rising to a tall cylindrical neck, brightly enamelled to the exterior with a terrace and stylised rockwork, in front of an old tree Shoulao, holding a staff, looks at a scroll being unfurled in front of him by one of the eight Daoist immortals together with a little boy, approaching Shoulao on the right is Zhongli Quan holding a peach, further immortals crowding around, all are dressed in different patterned robes exquisitely delineated, Shoulao wearing brown shoes the other immortals with black shoes, with a Qianlong mark. Period: Republic. Height: 54 cm.
These legendary beings of the Daoist sect who, for various reasons, at different periods attained immortality. Three of the immortals are based on historical character. As a group the tradition probably goes back to the Yuan dynasty whose emperors favoured Daoism. Individually they are known earlier.
The Eight Immortals presided over the great cave heavens of Daoist mythology situated in the Chinese mountains and stories abound concerning these mystic abodes. Their usual form of travel whilst in the celestial spheres was on clouds. Each represent a different condition in life, i.e., poverty, wealth, aristocracy, plebianism, age, youth, masculinity and femininity.
As decoration on porcelain they are frequently represented together with Shoulao the Star God of longevity. The eight Daoist emblems are the attributes of the immortals.
Shoulao, the God of Longevity, is depicted as gentle and smiling, his venerable head monstrously high on the upper part. He holds in one hand a staff and gourd and in the other the fruit of the fabulous tree, Pan Tao, which blossoms every three thousand years and only bears its peaches three thousand years later. He is usually represented riding a stag with a flying bat above his head, symbols of happiness; the peach and staff symbolise longevity.
Zhongli Quan, Zhou dynasty, 1122?249 BC, chief of the Eight Immortals, who had the secret of the elixir of life and powers of transmutation, is depicted as a fat man sometimes holding a peach in his hand and always grasping his emblem, a fan, which is said to be capable of resuscitating the souls of the dead.
PROVENANCE
A Private Swedish Collection.
Acquired in the 1950′s at Nils Nessims Antiques by Emmy Karlsson, thence by descent to the present owner in the 1960′s.