A BLUE AND WHITE 'EIGHT IMMORTALS' JAR, WANLI MARK AND PERIOD China, 1573-1619. Finely painted in deep cobalt-blue under an unctuous glaze. The six-character mark is neatly painted within a double circle to the circular base. Provenance: From a private estate in Massachusetts, USA. By repute in the same family since the earlier 1900s and thence by descent. Old collectors label to base. Condition: Good condition with one tiny flake to foot rim, one very short hair line to lip, old wear and traces of use, some firing irregularities, minor pitting, all as expected on wares from this period. Weight: 949.7 g (the vase) and 36 g (the lid) Dimensions: Height 15 cm (without the lid) and 17 cm (with the lid) This jar is painted with the Eight Taoist Immortals walking in procession over sea waves. Each Immortal can be identified by their physical features, dress, and the individual attributes in their hands. The base is painted with a band of ruyi sprays while a band of scalloped arabesque floral design around the rim releases a canopy of swirling clouds that alternate with each figure. The jar is of globular shape, the body tapering slightly to a round foot with a recessed base. Associated openwork hardwood lid, finely carved, dating from the later Qing dynasty. (2) Literature comparison: Compare with closely related jar in the collection of the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA, accession number 49.1525 青花八仙罐，萬曆款及年代 中國，1573-1619。青花釉下彩，底足雙圈六字款。 來源：美國馬賽諸塞州私人遺產，據悉上世紀初期保存於同一家族至今，底足老藏家標簽。 品相：狀況良好，只有足部邊緣有小磕碰，唇部一根很短的髮絲縫，老磨損和使用痕跡，一些燒製瑕疵，輕微的凹痕。 重量： 949.7 克 (瓶) ；36 克 (蓋) 尺寸： 高 15 厘米 (無蓋)；17 厘米 (含蓋)