Wine Jar with Tree in Form of 'Long Life' Character

Description This wine jar of globular shape is painted with underglaze blue symbols of immortality. The trunk of a peach tree is twisted into the character Shou, meaning "longevity'. Peach threes are emblems of marriage and more appropriately for immortality. A peach tree of the gods was believed to blossom every 3,000 years to yield the fruits of eternal life, which ripened for another 3,000 years. The peach fruit was also believed to give the Taoist Immortals their immortality; additionally the Taoist god of longevity is often depicted emerging from a peach. Sprouting from the roots of the peach tree is the sacred fungus lingzhi, another symbol of longevity.

Exhibitions

• Masterpieces of Chinese Porcelain. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1980-1981.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [mode and date of acquisition unknown]; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

Inscriptions [Reign Mark] In underglaze blue: Jiajing

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters