A Chinese Export Porcelain Plate Depicting Ma Gu Xian Shou, Qianlong Period c.1760
A finely painted Qianlong porcelain plate c.1760. The central scene of this Chinese taste export porcelain plate shows Ma Gu Xian Shou with a basket of flowers, a deer and a bat.
- Condition
- Excellent, the rim with light fritting.
- Size
- Diameter : 22 cm (9 3/4 inches)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 24831
- References
- For a blue and white plate of this size and design see : The Choice of the Private Trader, The Private Market in Chinese Export Porcelain illustrated from the Hodroff Collection (David S.Howard, Zwemmer,1994. ISBN 0 302 00642 7) page 283 Item 342.
Photos
Information
Lady Ma, Ma Gu Xian Shou - Immortal Xu Miao :
Lady Ma, Ma Gu Xian Shou was a Taoist goddess associating with fortune, longevity, and auspiciousness. Ma Gu Xian Shou is sometimes referred to as the Goddess of Hemp (Immortal Xu Miao). This relates to a story depicted in the classic novel `Journey to the West` Xi You Ji. Ma Gu Xian Shou attended the peach banquet held by the Queen Mother of the West, for which she brewed a special wine made of cannabis. She gave this to the Queen Mother Xi Wang Mu, and the image of this scene has become renowned as 'Ma Gu Offers Longevity', Ma Gu Xian Shou. This heavenly birthday party takes place once every ten thousand years. The depictions of Ma Gu Xian Shou show her with presents of peaches, a basket of herbs and flowers on her way to the heavenly party which is attended by all the other gods, she is sometimes shown with a deer.