Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century - Dishes - Page 2

Object 2011609

Dish

Japan

1670-1700

Height 60 mm (2.36 inch), diameter of rim 362 mm (14.25 inch), diameter of footring 164 mm (6.46 inch), weight 1,423 grams (50.20 ounce (oz.))

Dish on footring, flat rim. Two spur-marks on the base. Decorated in underglaze blue with a flower vase on a fenced terrace filled with a flowering peony plant in a circular cartouche. On the rim a border of large-scale karakusa (spiky lotus) design with flowers. The reverse is undecorated. On the base, in black paint, an old collectors number that reads 'E220'.

2011609

On the base, in black paint, an old collectors number that reads 'E220'.

In Japan porcelain is being produced since c.1600. Due to the internal conflicts in China during the second half of the 17th century kilns were destroyed, the porcelain production staggered and supply routes were cut off. In order to keep up with the ever growing demand for porcelain from the homeland the VOC, switched to Decima, Japan. Since 1641 a Dutch trading post was based on this artificial Island in the Bay of Nagasaki. With expanding Japanese production due to Dutch demand the decorative elements the designs and the more freely way in which they were applied by the porcelain decorators became more Japanese. It marked a clear change from the traditional Japanese interpretation of Chinese kraak designs. The powerful centre design and continuous karakusa scroll (kara means Chinese, kusa means grass) on this specific dish are good examples of that change. (Jörg 2003/1, p.260)

Although the flower vase on a fenced terrace is still reminiscent of those on Chinese kraak porcelain, the style of painting, the composition and in particular the karakusa scroll border design are characteristic of the later 17th-century production when the earlier styles and motifs had been combined into new patterns. (Jörg 2003/1, p.130)

For identically decorated dishes, please see;

Condition: Overall fine crazing to the glaze and three hairlines to the rim.

References:

Lunsingh Scheurleer 1971, cat. 36

London 1997, cat. 27

Jörg 2003/1, p. 260 & cat. 138

Price: € 599 Currency Converter