Bottle ID: 296

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APPLE GREEN, OCTAGONAL

Date: 1750-1800

Height: 44 mm

Jadeite, of mottled bright apple green tones, of faceted octagonal form and well hollowed; the front and reverse with four raised panels, carved in low relief with emblems of the Eight Immortals tied with flowing ribbons; one side (clockwise from top) with a fan, a flute, a musical tube (type of drum) and a pair of castanets; the reverse with a sword, a gourd, a basket of flowers and a lotus flower.

Possibly imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 498
Crane Collection no. 410
Crane Collection no. 274
JICSBS, Summer 1995, front cover

Provenance:

Clare Lawrence Ltd.
The Kenneth Hark Collection, Florida

Rather than depicting the Eight Treasures of Buddhism, this bottle is unusual in that it depicts the emblems of the Eight Immortals who were associated not with Buddhism, but Daoism. Like the Eight Treasures of Buddhism, these Daoist symbols are shown tied with ribbons. Generally of a red brocade, the ribbons acted with the efficacy of a protective charm over the eight symbols. In fact, there are hundreds of Immortals, but the “Eight Immortals” are a specific group of Daoist saints who can be named as Zhang Guolao, Zhongli Quan, Han Xiangzi, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Li Tieguai, Lu Dongbing and Cao Guojiu.

 

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