Saucer with lotus blossom and a figure of an immortal amid clouds

The idea of three-unit decoration inside a bowl was, as reported from kiln ruins, popular at Jingdezhen since the late Northern Song (WW 1980.11: pl. 3, fig. 1). The three-unit theme illustrated a profusion of themes in various manners of carving (KG 1985.4: 368) until the Yuan dynasty. With it potters were able to divide the main motif by alternating secondary cloud patterns, for example. This piece is likely a later work of a type that has lasted for centuries. The fluently carved motif in an arbitrary composition is unique among qingbai saucers for its illustration of Daoist subjects, such as the immortal amid three clouds and his two companion creatures, a tortoise and a crane, symbols of longevity.