The Poet Li Bai & the "Zhuxi Liuyi" Literati at Culai Mountain
Peerless Tang Dynasty poet, Li Bai, who famously drowned drunk in the Yangtze River while trying to embrace the moon's watery reflection astride his boat, was immortalized by his friend Du Fu's satirical poem Yinzhong Baxian (8 Immortals of the Wine Cup - in reality, Li Bai, cavorting with his Imperial & noble literati friends). Imbibement was Li Bai's method of poetic inspiration, and the reference upon this vessel meant for alcohol consumption is no accident, making it the quintessential Chinese Export Silver drinking vessel of this type.
In contrast to the common village vignettes & violent battle scenes typically found on similar vessels, we are instead treated here to a sophisticated diorama of the most elevated pursuits: Li Bai & his renowned literati group, the Zhuxi Liuyi (Li Bai, Pei Zhen, Kong Chaofu, Zhang Shuming, Han Zhun, and Du Fu) engaged in the classical arts of calligraphy, poetry, guzheng, and weiqi (圍棋) - all stimulated by cups of wine flowing from the hands of servant boys.
The literati are surrounded by auspicious symbols of immortality, from lingzhi-covered ancient trees to flying cranes to mist-encircled heights replete with pagodas, bamboo, and viewing stones. The foreground bamboo stream with floating waterfowl & lotus blossoms identifies Li Bai's real-world home in Zhuxi (which means "Bamboo Stream") at Culai Mountain (in Shandong).
Similar depictions of Li Bai & this illustrious group of six can be found on priceless Qianlong jade brush pots...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Late Victorian Barware