Exquisitely enamelled around the exterior with a continuous scene of dignitaries and ladies on horseback led by Lu Dongbin, riding towards two ascetics, one wearing a blue tunic with patches and carrying a fly whisk, the other a staff, all amidst a mountainous landscape with trees and wispy clouds. 

Provenance: Paul Sobart Collection
An English private collection

Note: The decoration depicts a scene from the 'Temptations of Lu Dongbin'. The scholar Lu Dongbin (8th century) once met an old man who invited him for a drink. While the wine was warmed up, Lu Dongbin fell asleep and dreamt of the great fortunes that would befall him. Unfortunately, in the end fate turned against him and he lost his family, his position and all his belongings. When he awoke, he realised it was all an illusion. The old man laughed and said 'A whole life lasts only a few minutes!' Lu then realised that the old man was the Daoist Immortal Zhongli Quan. Zhongli Quan accepted Lu Dongbin as his disciple but on the condition he could resist worldly temptations. After having overcome these temptations, he became one of the Eight Immortals. The particular scene on the present lot probably depicts one of the temptations, when a mad Daoist is trying to sell Lu Dongbin a magic potion, claiming that after drinking it one would immediately be reborn as an Immortal. No one dared drink the potion, but Lu did and nothing happened. For a famille verte bowl, with similar decoration, Kangxi, see C.J.A.Jorg, Famille Verte: Chinese Porcelain in Green Enamels, Amsetrdam, 2011, pp.80-81.

Compare with a related figural famille verte rouleau vase, Kangxi, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 11 May 2016, lot 182.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 08.11.2018