Page 14 - Bonhams Chinese Works of Art June 2015 Hong Kong

4 The Eight Immortals, a group of legendary deities depicted in Chinese
A BLUE AND WHITE AND COPPER-RED ‘IMMORTALS’ BOWL Daoist mythology, are led by Lu Dongbin, and consists of another
Qianlong seal mark and of the period seven members named He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, Han
Decorated around the exterior with the Eight Daoist Immortals on Xiangzi, Zhongli Quan, Li Tieguai and Cao Guojiu. The scene depicted
a ground of copper-red crested waves, the interior with a central on the present lot of the Eight Immortals traversing through crashing
medallion enclosing Shoulao beside a deer holding a staff, the base waves, is a reference to the well-known Ming dynasty folklore, ‘The
with a six-character zhuanshu seal mark. Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea’. Legend has it that the Eight
22.2cm (8 3/4in) diam. Immortals were en route to attend the Conference of the Magical
Peach when they encountered an ocean. Exercising their individual
HK$180,000 - 240,000 abilities, each by using their unique tools that are depicted with the
US$23,000 - 31,000 figures on the present lot, they crossed the vast body of water. The
Chinese proverb of Baxian guohai, gexian shentong is derived from
清乾隆 青花釉裏紅八仙渡海圖碗 青花「大清乾隆年製」篆書款 this legend, whereby it bears the moral of each individual doing their
part to make a plan successful.
Provenance 來源:
Wilfred A. Evill (d.1963) Bowls of this type were also produced in blue and white and are rarer
Bluett & Sons, London still in doucai enamels. See a blue and white bowl with the Immortals
According to the family, acquired by Hans Goldstein probably between on the exterior, Yongzheng mark and period, from the collection of
1948-1981 and thence by descent Sir Harry Garner, illustrated by S.Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain,
London, 1971, pl.LX.
Wilfred A. Evill舊藏（於1963年過世）
倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons Compare a bowl of similar size and decoration sold at Christie’s New
據說此拍品由Hans Goldstein或於1948至1981年間購得，並由家族 York, 22-23 March 2012, lot 2010; see also another sold at Christie’s
繼承 New York, 19-20 September 2013, lot 1409.

此碗繪「八仙過海圖」，八仙為中國道教和中國神話中的八位神仙，
包括呂洞賓、何仙姑、藍采和、張果老、韓湘子、鍾離權、李鐵拐和
曹國舅。相傳八仙赴西王母蟠桃會祝壽，在過東海時李鐵拐建議將
各自法寶投於水面各自過海，就是後來「八仙過海、各顯神通」的
傳說。

此類碗也見於青花和鬥彩作品中，見Harry Garner爵士舊藏一件清雍
正帶款青花例子，著錄於S.Jenyns，《Later Chinese Porcelain》，倫
敦，1971年，圖版LX。再參考紐約佳士得，2012年3月22-23日，拍
品2010；及紐約佳士得，2013年9月19-20日，拍品1409。

12 | BONHAMS