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Bowl with God of Longevity (Shoulao) and Eight Daoist Immortals

A work made of porcelain painted in underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome enamels.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of porcelain painted in underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome enamels.

Date:

Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Wanli reign mark and period (1572–1620)

Artist:

China

About this artwork

The lively figures encircling the exterior of the bowl represent the Eight Daoist Immortals, a group of legendary and semi-historical characters, gathered in attendance around the God of Longevity. Elevated upon a floating seat, the God of Longevity is distinguished by his domed cranium and the “ruyi” scepter in his hand. The eight immortals, each identifiable by their unique physical features, companions, or attributes, symbolize immortality, longevity and happiness across various conditions of life.

The figures and the landscape background are rendered in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze color enamels. The relatively thick and coarse body of the bowl is characteristic of late Ming porcelains.

Status

On View, Gallery 134

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Bowl with God of Longevity (Shoulao) and Eight Daoist Immortals

Place

China (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1573–1620

Medium

Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome enamels

Dimensions

9 × 18.2 cm (3 1/2 × 7 1/8 in.); Diam.: 18.1 cm (7 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Dorothy Braude Edinburg to the Harry B. and Bessie K. Braude Memorial Collection

Reference Number

2002.628

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/180200/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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