Wine Jar with Eight Immortals
1271–1368
1 of 9
Object Label
This celadon wine jar is embellished with the popular story of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea (ba xian guo hai). Daoist literature describes the extraordinary origin stories of the immortals as well as their unique magical powers. They walk across billowing waves, with each individual framed by cloud patterns, denoting their celestial status. In the Yuan dynasty, the immortals are composed of seven men and one woman (He Xiangu). Their origin stories, explained in the handout in this gallery, are described in Yuan-dynasty plays (zaju), a popular literary genre.
Caption
Wine Jar with Eight Immortals, 1271–1368. High-fired green ware (celadon), 10 x 10 15/16 x 11 5/8 in. (25.4 x 27.8 x 29.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins, 52.49.33. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Collection
Collection
Title
Wine Jar with Eight Immortals
Date
1271–1368
Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
Period
Yuan Dynasty
Geography
Place made: Zhejiang, China
Medium
High-fired green ware (celadon)
Classification
Dimensions
10 x 10 15/16 x 11 5/8 in. (25.4 x 27.8 x 29.5 cm)
Credit Line
The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins
Accession Number
52.49.33
Frequent Art Questions
What is celadon?
Celadon is a blue-green glaze, often used on stoneware, a kind of ceramic. Celadons are named due to the greenish-blue color of their glaze. Their color can vary in tone from grayish to greenish depending on the composition of the clay. The color of celadon is achieved by placing a green-colored glaze over a gray clay body and the reaction of iron oxide when the vessel is fired in a reduction atmosphere.Thank you.
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