figurines, polychrome-painted ivory on carved wooden pedestals of the 8 Immortals, ht. 18-19 1/2 cm. a) Chung-li Ch'uan, bare belly, emblem in hands broken off, front and side of pedestal fence (PF) missing; b) Chang-Kuo-loa, carried Yu Ku (bamboo instrument), PF missing. c) Lu-Tung-pin, carries fly whisk, rear PF missing; d) Ts-ao Kuo-chiu, carries castinets; e) Li-T'ieh-kuai, begger with staff, front PF missing, side PF to be reglued; f) Han Hsiang-tzu, carries flute, side PF missing; figure is loose on stand; g) Lan Ts'ai-ho, carries flower basket; female; back PF missing; h) Ho-Hsien-ku, carries lotus; female.
Donor:
Gladys "Gay" Womack and Robert Womack
Collection place:
China
Verbatim coll. place:
China, unspecified
Collector:
Gladys "Gay" Womack and Robert Womack
Collection date:
1920s
Materials:
Ivory (material) and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Figurines
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1983
Context of use:
The Pa Hsien, or eight immortals, are legendary beings of the Taoist sect, said to have lived at various times and attained immortality through their studies of Nature's secrets." see Williams.