KANGXI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1662-1722)

The poem Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup (Yinzhong baxian) was written by the famous Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (AD 712-770) who, like many Tang dynasty men of letters, derived considerable enjoyment, and, apparently, inspiration, from drinking wine. In his poem he chose to celebrate the drinking habits of other literary men of his time, including that of his great friend Li Bai (AD 701-62). This poem provided the subject for paintings at least as early as the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), and appeared as decoration on porcelain in the Qing dynasty Shunzhi reign (1644-1661), although it was particularly popular in the Kangxi reign (1662-1722). Two bowls of the same shape as the present bowl, also decorated with scenes from the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup, and of Kangxi date, were sold at Christie's New York, from the collection of Julia and John Curtis, lot 3588, an example in blue and white that also includes a verse from the poem for each of the eight scenes, and lot 3587, a yellow-ground blue and white example, with some details in green and aubergine.