Jar with the Eight Immortals

This jar is painted with figures and designs in underglaze cobalt blue. Eight figures representing the Eight Taoist Immortals walk in procession over sea waves. Each Immortal can be identified by their physical features, dress, and the individual attributes in their hands. The base is painted with stylized sprays of clouds from the waves while a scalloped arabesque floral design around the rim releases a canopy of swirling clouds that alternate with each figure. The jar is a globular shape, the body tapering slightly to a round foot and an open round rimmed mouth and may have been used as a tea jar. A similar tea jar painted with The Eight Taoist Immortals can be found in the Walters collection [WALTERS 49.1335].