Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 03 Apr 2019
A pair of puce-enamelled blue and white 'Eight Immortals' bowls, marks and period of Tongzhi (1862-1874)
Lot 3643. A pair of puce-enamelled blue and white 'Eight Immortals' bowls, marks and period of Tongzhi (1862-1874); 22.2 cm, 8 3/4 in. Estimate 120,000 — 150,000 HKD. Lot Sold 275,000 HKD (35,423 USD). Courtesy Sotheby's.
each with rounded sides resting on a tapered foot, the exterior painted in underglaze blue with the Eight Immortals carrying their various attributes, riding on various sea creatures or plants, journeying across a ground of cresting waves in puce enamel, all above a key-fret band, the interior similarly decorated with a central medallion enclosing Shoulao and a deer amongst puce waves below scrolling clouds, all within blue line borders, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark.
Provenance: Collection of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), thence by descent in the family.