A blue and white double-gourd 'Eight Daoist Immortals' vase, Mark and period of Wanli | 明萬曆 青花群仙獻壽圖大葫蘆瓶 《大明萬曆年製》款

The present vase is impressive for its large size, robust potting and dynamic painting. To the lower bulb, the Eight Daoist Immortals are vividly painted. Dressed in billowing robes and separated by cloud scrolls, the immortals are shown carrying auspicious objects or vessels and depicted in motion as if parading after one another. The upper section shows a seated Shoulao under a pine tree, accompanied by Liuhai with his three-legged toad and other attendants. Imbued with auspicious Daoist imagery, the vase is a well-wishing gift for long life and success. The double-gourd shape of the present lot is also symbolic: it represents longevity and is associated with the Daoist Immortal Li Tieguai who is depicted holding a double-gourd containing a magic potion to the lower section. 

Extremely rare, the present vase has a six-character mark to the mouth rim. See a closely related example, of the same form and motif, but with Xiwangmu (Queen Mother of the West) depicted to the upper section and without a mark, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei (accession no. 故瓷008087N000000000). 

The combination of the Eight Immortals motif and the double-gourd form finds its inspiration in blue and white vases that were popular during the reign of Wanli’s grandfather, the Jiajing Emperor, who was a devote Daoist. For Jiajing marked examples of a slightly larger size, see one, previously in the collection of J. Piermont Morgan, illustrated in Catalogue of The Morgan Collections of Chinese Porcelains, New York, 1907, no. 243 and sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 7th October 2006, lot 918; another, in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pl. 9:36.