Daoist Immortal Zhongli Quan
Unknown Artist
1662–1722
Medium
porcelain with famille verte overglaze enamel decoration
Dimensions
h. 29.9 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Severance and Greta Millikin Collection
Accession Number
1964.193
About this artwork
This porcelain figure represents Zhongli Quan as a scholar. He is wearing a scholar’s hat and carries a scroll on his back. He holds a fan that, according to legend, could bring the dead to life. Thus, he also bears the auspicious meaning of longevity. On his bare belly, the potter painted a qilin, a mythical auspicious creature that turns his head to the sun. The same design in different colors also decorates his back.