The inscription reads: Top line: 三六學仕攤[貪]盃懶[攬]去登瀛州[洲],二四神仙醉後不知歸 洞府 Eighteen scholars, in the thrall of their [wine] cups, are too lazy to ascend Yingzhou [to serve as officials]. Eight immortals, once they are drunk, know not how to return to their grottoes.
Bottom line: 紫府瓊漿,瑤池玉夜[液] Sweet wine of the Purple Abode, jade liquor of the Jasper Lake.
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Artwork Details
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明晚期 磁州窯白地褐彩大酒甕
Title:Large wine jar
Period:Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Date:late 16th century
Culture:China
Medium:Stoneware painted and inscribed in dark brown on white ground (Cizhou ware)
Dimensions:H. 25 in. (63.5 cm); Diam. 18 in. (45.7 cm)
Classification:Ceramics
Credit Line:Gift of Stanley Herzman, in memory of Adele Herzman, 1991
Accession Number:1991.253.23
Inscription: Sanliu xueshi tan bei lan qu deng Yingzhou. Ersi shenxian zui hou bu zhi gui dongfu. Zifu qiongjiang. Yaochi yuye. It has been translated: Eighteen scholars, loving their cups, grasp them and ascend Ying mountain. Eight Immortals, after they're drunk, (are) oblivious of returning to their grottoes. Heavenly wine. Immortal pool of dew.
Stanley Herzman , New York (until 1991; donated to MMA)
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "A Selection of Chinese Ceramics from the Adele and Stanley Herzman Collection," June 1–August 26, 1990.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Brush and Ink: The Chinese Art of Writing," September 2, 2006–January 21, 2007.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Journeys: Mapping the Earth and Mind in Chinese Art," February 10–August 26, 2007.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Bridging East and West: The Chinese Diaspora and Lin Yutang," September 15, 2007–February 10, 2008.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Chinese Painting from The Met Collection (Rotation One)," October 31, 2015–October 11, 2016.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Chinese Painting from the Metropolitan Collection (Rotation Two)," May 7–October 11, 2016.
Valenstein, Suzanne G. The Herzman Collection of Chinese Ceramics. New York: Stanley Herzman, 1992, p. 51, cat. no. 42.
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