Page 132 - Christies IMportant Chinese Art Sept 26 2020 NYC

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF LENORA AND WALTER F. BROWN
1593
A SUPERBLY ENAMELED FAMILLE ROSE PEAR-SHAPED VASE
YONGZHENG PERIOD (1723-1735)
The vase is boldy decorated with the Eight Daoist Immortals holding offerings and
gazing up towards Shoulao and his attendant descending on multi-colored clouds.
The scene is divided by a pine tree growing beside lingzhi and finely-shaded rocks.
15¡ in. (39.1 cm.) high
$60,000-80,000
PROVENANCE:
Christie's London, 12 December 1977, lot 208.
The Lenora and Walter F. Brown Collection, San Antonio, Texas.

The decoration on this beautifully enameled vase exhibits a dynamic, continuous
scene of the Eight Daoist Immortals and Shoulao, formatted more in the style of
earlier Shunzhi-period wares. Shoulao appears at the top of the scene floating on
a colorful cloud with an attendant. The other immortals are each identified by their
attributes: below Shoulao is Lan Caihe, holding a basket next to a deer, and Zhang
Guolao, carrying two beaters with his bamboo pipe. Li Tieguai appears with his
crutch and magical double gourd which emits a billowing vapor that contains a
miniature image of his soul (hun). Zhongli Quan grasps the peach, as Han Xiangzi
holds a flute and Lü Dongbin, patron of wine merchants and barbers, holds a jue
and with a sword on his back. Cao Guojiu has the castinets and He Xian’gu carries
a lotus flower. The single pine tree that divides the scene emphasizes the theme of
long-life, which is re-enforced by the lingzhi fungus of immortality growing at its
base. While the immortals appear to be one of the favorite subjects during the late
Ming and Transitional period of the seventeenth century, their skilful depiction on
this vase in the newly perfected famille rose enamels of the Yongzheng reign is rare.

清雍正 粉彩八仙賀壽圖瓶

(detail)