Lot 45. A blue and white, 'Shoulao' bowl, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1619). Estimate HKD 250,000 — 350,000 (28,223 - 39,512 EUR). Lot Sold 875,000 HKD (98,780 EUR). Photo: Sotheby's.

well potted with deep rounded sides resting on a cylindrical foot, the exterior skilfully painted in various shades of cobalt blue, depicting Shoulao riding on a deer led by a crane and an acolyte, followed by two further attendants holding a fan and a bundle, the reverse with an acolyte carrying a flute standing in front of a willow tree at the riverbank with a pavilion sheltered behind a pine tree, all set within a garden landscape, the rim bordered by a lingzhi meander and the foot with a classic scroll, painted to the interior with a central medallion enclosing a five-clawed dragon writhing amongst scrolling clouds, the rim encircled by the beribboned bajixiang within line borders, inscribed to the base with a six-character reign mark within a double circle - 15.4 cm, 6 1/8  in.

Provenance: Collection of Edward T. Chow (1910-80), until 1967. 
Christie’s London, 27th November 1967, lot 43 (240 gns). 
Bluett & Sons Ltd, London, 1967 (240 gns).
Collection of Roger Pilkington (1928-69), from 1967 (£252).

Note: Compare a wucai bowl illustrated with a closely related scene, in the Riesco collection, published in Soame Jenyns, Ming Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1953, pl. 98c; another included in Sekai tōji zenshū, vol. 11, pl. 176; and a third example sold in our London rooms, 9th June 1987, lot 244.

Due to the Wanli Emperor’s keen interest in Daoism and the search for the elixir of immortality, the theme of longevity was popular during his reign. Images representing longevity are scattered throughout this bowl, such as Shoulao, the God of Longevity, the deer, and pine and willow trees. This bowl is unusual, however, for the depiction of Shoulao departing the pavilion on the back of a deer. During the Wanli reign, Shoulao was more commonly illustrated seated and together with the other Eight Immortals; see a slightly larger bowl of this form, from the Mr and Mrs George Lee collection, included in the exhibition The Fame of Flame. Imperial Wares of the Jiajing and Wanli Periods, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2009, cat. no. 77; and another from the collection of Mr and Mrs Albert Nipon, included in the exhibition Chinese Blue and White, Wan Li to K’ang Hsi, S. Marchant & Son, London, 1980, cat. no. 1, and sold in our London rooms, 17th December 1996, lot 61.