Lacquered wooden spool decorated two attributes of the ‘Eight Immortals’. The hollowed out gourd belonged to the Immortal Li Tiguai who used it to store pills. The bamboo tube with the metal beaters inside, a so called fish drum, is a symbol of ‘Longevity’ and belonged to the Immortal Zhang Guolao. Both items seem to float in the Clouds which symbolize the ‘Granting of all Wishes’. The spool is lacquered in gold and red which are both auspicious colors in China. It was used for winding up different colors of silk thread which were used for embroidery. It dates from the early Republic Period (1912 – 1947). Length 10 cm. Width 6 cm. Thickness 1.4 cm.