Porcelain bowl hand painted in underglaze blue and puce enamel overglaze with eight Daoist Immortals encircling the exterior side of the bowl surrounded by swirling waves, the interior well has a roundel with Shoulao and a deer, the foot is decorated with a leiwen border over cobalt stripes, the underside bears a six character Xuantong mark in underglaze blue.

2 7/8 in., 8 7/8 in. diameter

From the Estate of the late Hugh McCormick Smith (1865-1941), Washington, D.C.

Dr. Hugh McCormick Smith (1865-1941) was a world famous naturalist, medical doctor & ichthyologist, and lived for many years in Asia documenting marine resources and fisheries. This bowl was in his collection, and by descent to his grandson’s widow.

This pattern is found on a number of bowls dating to the Daoguang, Tongzhi and Guangxu periods but examples with Xuantong marks are extremely rare. A Xuantong marked bowl from the Tsui Museum of Art and Jingguantang Collection was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 April 1997, lot 78. A pair of Xuantong marked bowls of the same pattern was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 October 1995, lot 790. Another example is illustrated by Liu Liang-yu in Ch'ing Official and Popular Wares, A Survey of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 5, p. 251.

Two hairlines to rim; some small areas of restoration to foot rim.