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Bowl

1662-1722 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Jingdezhen (made)

Bowl of porcelain with decoration painted in enamel colours principally red. Round the sides are three groups of Daoist immortals as follows (left to right):
I. Zhongli Quan; Lan Caihe; Li Tieguai; Zhang Guolao.
II. Han Xiangzi, Lu Dongbin; Cao Guoqiu; Kui Xing (God of Literature) in the form a demon, nude from waist to neck, carrying a bundle of books, and with a small tree growing form the crown of his head; He Xiangu.
III. (a) A female immortal carrying a fish-drum and riding on a crane. (b) A boy carrying a picture scroll and a head of lingzhi on a stick over his shoulder. (c) A deer laden with two large peaches. (d) A second boy. (e) Shou Lao (God of Longevity) carrying a ruyi.
There are also several small bats standing homophorically for happiness.


Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Porcelain
Object type
Bowl
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels
Porcelain
Painted
Glazed
Brief description
Bowl, porcelain painted in overglaze enamels; China (Jingdezhen), Qing dynasty, Kangxi mark and period (1662-1722)
Physical description
Bowl of porcelain with decoration painted in enamel colours principally red. Round the sides are three groups of Daoist immortals as follows (left to right):
I. Zhongli Quan; Lan Caihe; Li Tieguai; Zhang Guolao.
II. Han Xiangzi, Lu Dongbin; Cao Guoqiu; Kui Xing (God of Literature) in the form a demon, nude from waist to neck, carrying a bundle of books, and with a small tree growing form the crown of his head; He Xiangu.
III. (a) A female immortal carrying a fish-drum and riding on a crane. (b) A boy carrying a picture scroll and a head of lingzhi on a stick over his shoulder. (c) A deer laden with two large peaches. (d) A second boy. (e) Shou Lao (God of Longevity) carrying a ruyi.
There are also several small bats standing homophorically for happiness.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.2cm
  • Diameter: 14.9cm
Styles
Kangxi
Polychrome
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'da qing Kangxi nian zhi' in a double circle, in underglaze blue
    Translation
    Made in the Kangxi period of the great Qing dynasty
  • Transliteration
    .
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr W. G. Gulland
Production
label
Subjects depicted
Daoist Immortals
Magic Fungus
Deer
Boys
Ruyi
Bats
Kui Xing
Shou Xing
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
CIRC.321-1931

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O437253/bowl-unknown/
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