The He He Ersheng or He He Twin Immortals are depicted sitting together laughing. One is barefoot while the other wears shoes and carries a basket containing a bat, symbol of happiness. The piece is covered in a clear pale ivory glaze, which reveals extremely fine incised facial features, embroidered decoration and the woven basket. The attention to details, the inclusion of hands and an ivory glaze are characteristics of He Chaozong’s work. The twins were reputed to have been a pair of eccentric Chan Buddhist monks Hanshan and Shide who lived during the 8th century. The revival of Chan Buddhism and the popularity of themes such as Hanshan and Shide are thought to have prompted the production of such pieces during the late Ming period (1368-1644).Dehua, located on the southeast coast of Fujian province, is well known for its production of white porcelain, known to Europeans as 'blanc de Chine'. The earliest Dehua porcelain was produced as early as the 14th century but the production and quality of these porcelain peaked around the 17th and 18th centuries.
