Footnotes

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

Provenance 來源:
Wilfred A. Evill (d.1963)
Bluett & Sons, London
According to the family, acquired by Hans Goldstein probably between 1948-1981 and thence by descent

Wilfred A. Evill舊藏（於1963年過世）
倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons
據說此拍品由Hans Goldstein或於1948至1981年間購得，並由家族繼承


The Eight Immortals, a group of legendary deities depicted in Chinese Daoist mythology, are led by Lu Dongbin, and consists of another seven members named He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, Han Xiangzi, Zhongli Quan, Li Tieguai and Cao Guojiu.

The scene depicted on the present lot of the Eight Immortals traversing through crashing waves, is a reference to the well-known Ming dynasty folklore, 'The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea'. Legend has it that the Eight Immortals were en route to attend the Conference of the Magical Peach when they encountered an ocean. Exercising their individual abilities, each by using their unique tools that are depicted with the figures on the present lot, they crossed the vast body of water. The Chinese proverb of Baxian guohai, gexian shentong is derived from this legend, whereby it bears the moral of each individual doing their part to make a plan successful.

Bowls of this type were also produced in blue and white and are rarer still in doucai enamels. See a blue and white bowl with the Immortals on the exterior, Yongzheng mark and period, from the collection of Sir Harry Garner, illustrated by S.Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, London, 1971, pl.LX.

Compare a bowl of similar size and decoration sold at Christie's New York, 22-23 March 2012, lot 2010; see also another sold at Christie's 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。