Embroidered Immortal with flowers & Crane
China
Early 19th century
48cm x 54cm

A portrait of Lan Caihe, one of the 8 Daoist Immortals, embroidered in coloured silk floss on a midnight blue silk satin ground. The Immortal is shown as a youth in a green informal robe and carries his emblem, a basket of flowers and fruit. He is attended by a crane, a symbol of longevity. Lan Caihe was a purely legendary figure rather than an historical one and was the patron of florists.