Page 85 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Asian Art

reference to a magic elixir. Behind him, a boy carries a large peach. A similar blue and white double-gourd vase with the same motif of
Such peaches were grown by the Queen Mother of the West in her Immortals, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period, is illustrated by
enchanted garden. Eating such fruit conferred immortality. Then comes S.W.Bushell and W.M.Laffan, Catalogue of The Morgan Collections of
Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals who is identified by his flute. Chinese Porcelains, New York, 1907, pl.XIV, no.243, which was later
Behind him is Zhang Guolao, another of the Eight Immortals, shown sold at Sotheby’s London, 15 June 1982, lot 287. Compare also with
with bamboo drum and sticks. A dog running towards someone is another very similar blue and white double-gourd vase with the same
an emblem of forthcoming riches. Another of the Eight Immortals motif of Immortals, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period, which
is Cao Guojiu in court dress and holding castanets. Next comes an was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 October 2006, lot 918.
Immortal between deer and crane carrying a two-headed tortoise.
The landscape is festooned with auspicious plants such as pine trees
and lingzhi. The Jiajing emperor himself was particularly partial to
memorials sent by officials recording unusual and auspicious natural
phenomenon such as the sighting of white deer, etc.

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