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Lot Essay
Two large dishes of similar proportions, also decorated with the 'Eight Daoist Immortals’, were illustrated by Michael Butler, Julia B. Curtis and Stephen Little in Shunzhi Porcelain: Treasures from an Unknown Reign, 1644-1661, Alexandria, VA, 2002. The first, from the Butler Family Collection, decorated in the wucai palette (p. 224, no. 75), and the second, from the Collection of Caromy Hoare, decorated in underglaze blue (p. 225, no. 76). Both examples bear the same mark inscribed on this lot, which is noted by Sir Michael Butler to be a commendation or 'omen' mark that was popular in the Shunzhi period. The theme can also be found on two other pieces from the Curtis Collection, a large bowl (lot 3559), and a small vase (lot 3564).
Another blue and white example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated by Chen Runmin in Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Palace Museum (Volume 1): Blue and White Ceramics in Shunzhi and Kangxi Periods (Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qing hua ci), Beijing, 2005, pp. 38-39, no. 17, and also bears the same commendation mark. Another was sold at Christie's London, 12 May 2009, lot 160.
Another blue and white example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated by Chen Runmin in Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Palace Museum (Volume 1): Blue and White Ceramics in Shunzhi and Kangxi Periods (Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qing hua ci), Beijing, 2005, pp. 38-39, no. 17, and also bears the same commendation mark. Another was sold at Christie's London, 12 May 2009, lot 160.