Two similar bowls on footring, octagonal lobed spreading sides, lobed rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a figure and an inscription in each of the eight panels. Around the foot a band of lotus-petal motifs. Around the inside of the rim ruyi motifs on a diaper pattern ground. Inside on the base a sitting figure in a landscape. On the base the six-character mark Kangxi in a double circle. Both of these very rare, richly decorated bowls have representations of the ‘Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup’ of the Tang dynasty. Each figure is accompanied by a poem by the famous Tang poet Du Fu (712-770), who can be considered the ninth ‘Immortal’. The following eight drunkards are represented, accompanied by the poems: He Zhizhang (659-744), official, poet and calligrapher. The poem reads: ‘Zhizang rides his horse as if travelling by barge. A flower drops into a well and Zhizang falls asleep’. The Prince of Ruyang, the oldest son of Emperor Xuanzong. ‘After three cups Ruyang begins his tour of duty to Heaven. Dribbling at every turn of the cart on the road, yet firmly, without wavering, he keeps an eye on the source of the wine’. Li Shizhi, in 742 the First Minister on the Left-hand Si...