Sold Ceramics - Sold Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Dishes - Page 2

Object 2010509

Dish

China

Ming dynasty, Wanli/Tianqi period (1573-1627), ca. 1609-1625

Height 53 mm (2.09 inch), diameter 291 mm (11.46 inch), diameter of footring 151 mm (5.94 inch), weight 741 grams (26.14 ounce (oz.))

Dish with shallow rounded moulded sides, a flat , upturned bracket-lobed rim and low, V-shaped footring that slants slightly inwards. Decorated in underglaze blue with a crow perched on a rock besides a large blossoming peony branch and a crow approaching in flight beneath overhanging rocks and spirals of water, encircled by an eight-pointed star-shaped medallion surrounded by alternating scale and swastika-diaper patterns. The rounded sides and the flat, up-turned foliated rim are divided into eight wide and narrow radiating panels. The wide panels are alternately painted with peaches on a tall spray and auspicious symbols tied with ribbons; the narrow panels with three dots framed above and below by scale and swastika-diaper patterns. On the reverse seven panels enclosing roundels filled with a dot, separated by narrow radiating panels filled with stylized lingzhi-fungus The recessed base is covered with a thick white glaze. Coarse sand from the kiln adheres to areas of the fooring. (Welsh 2008, p.208)

This dish belongs to a group of kraak dishes, which are noted for their shallow rounded sides and flat up-turned bracket lobed rims with panelled decoration. The star-shaped medallion of this type of dish is usually decorated with naturalistic scenes depicting ducks in a pond beside large water plants, birds perched on rocks or flying beside large blossoming flowers, or insects hovering above large blossoming flowers and rocks. Othe common motifs are a bowl filled with flowers and auspicious symbols supported on a stans of gnarled roots or on low table or rocks or a wicker basket filled with flowers. Occasionally dishes of this type are decorated with landscape scenes depicting Daoist immortals.

The central design in these dishes is set within a star-shaped medallion almost invariably surrounded by alternating diaper patterns linked by ruyi-heads, including scale, swastika, trellis, hexagonal-diaper and white on blue flower scrolls. Occasionally the ruyi-heads that link the diaper patterns (or even the whole star-shaped medallion with the diaper patterns) are omitted.

The large panels of the cavetto and rim are typically filled with stylized peaches in a tall spray alternating with auspicious symbols, including Artemisia leaf, single or double-gourd bottles or a scroll tied with ribbons. The narrow panels of these dishes are decorated with dots, pending knotted ribbons or strings of pearls and jewels, framed by scale and swastika-diaper patterns.

The reverse is always sketchily painted with eight large ogival or rounded panels enclosing stylized lingzhi fungus and dots, separated by narrow radiating panels painted with vertical and curved horizontal lines, in accordance with the panelled division of the front.

The fact that dishes of this form and closely related decoration were found in the cargo of two vessels - the Dutch East Indiaman, the Mauritius, which sank on its return journey on March 19, 1609, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Guinea and also in the cargo of the Chinese junk, known as the Hatcher wreck, which sank in 1643 possibly on its way to Batavia - demonstrates that this type of dish was so popular that it continued being made for more than three decades. The later versions, however do show more deterioration on their painted design. (Welsh 2008, pp.208-211)

According to Rinaldi this dish can be classified as a Border VII.2 dish. Here the large panels on the border are no longer filled with floral sprays or insects, while the peach has begun its transformation into what is known as the sunflower motif. Auspicious symbols replace floral sprays and insects, most of them concerned with longevity, as if to ward off the dangers of wars and famines which swept over China at that time. These symbols are usually Daoist or the Eight treasures. Buddhist symbols are much rarer. In this group narrow panels are partly filled with diaper motifs. In the centre Medallion the ducks in a pond and the hanging basket are still very common. In this group a new motif appears: a bird on a rock near water and large flowers, usually peonies. The scheme of the underside repeats that of the front. Large ogival or round panels contain fungus and dots; narrow sections contain stylised lingzhi motifs. In this group narrow panels are partly filled with diaper motifs while there are a few dishes which do not have a diaper border around the central medallion. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105)

For similarly decorated dishes, please see:

Condition: Some small filled frits to the reverse rim, one with a short connected hairline.

References:

Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105

Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, No. 4540

Welsh 2008, pp.208-211 & cat. 33

Price: Sold.