Sold Ceramics - Sold Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Klapmutsen

Object 2010206

Klapmuts

China

1605-1650

Height 50 mm (1.96 inch), diameter of rim 104 mm (4.09 inch), diameter of footring 40 mm (1.57 inch)

Klapmuts or bowl on footring, flat rim with short upturned foliated edge. Decorated in underglaze blue. In the centre a figure sitting by a shore, in the background mountains and clouds. On the interior wall four large medallions with flowers and peaches. On the rim four large medallions with a taotie monster mask separated by four narrow panels, which cover both cavetto and rim uncharacteristically left bare of decoration, normally these narrow panels would have been decorated with a bow hanging from a ruyi head.  The exterior wall is decorated with four medallions with stylized flaming pearls, separated by narrower panels filled with lingzhi. On the exterior rim two elongated flowering stems.

According to Rinaldi this klapmuts can be classified as a group V klapmuts. In these klapmutsen the rim is divided into four large and four narrow panels in the most typical Kraak style The four large and slightly triangular panels are decorated with a monster mask, while the narrow sections extend, without interruption, from rim to centre medallion and are covered with a continuous design, usually a bow hanging from a ruyi head or a more elaborate motif. This group acquired its definitive stylistic shape around the first years of the seventh century and continued to be produced in massive for the rest of the first half of the century. They are most common of all klapmutsen and were produced in almost all sizes. The mask is often referred to as taotie, one of the oldest symbols used in Chinese decoration. It was represented as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100) BC on bronze and later on jade. There are many variations of the taotie mask, whose purpose was to ward off evil spirits. It is interesting to note that though referred to as a taotie, the representation on the klapmuts is, in fact, most unlike the traditional Chinese monster mask. Instead it has a definite resemblance to a gala, the mythological Indian glutton who was punished by having to eat his own body until only the mouth and upper part of the head and two tiny hands remain. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.129-133)

When the Dutch captured Formosa in 1624, the VOC (Dutch East India Company) provided the merchants who kept in direct contact with pottersin Jingdezhen with wooden models of silver objects that they wanted to be executed in Porcelain. Furthermore, the VOC specified which sort of decoration they wanted these products to have. People were primarily keen on decoration containing Chinese figures. Such subjects, however, very seldom appear on Kraak porcelain.(Campen & Eliëns 2014, pp.55-56)

Condition: A spreading hairline from the rim, four other spots with tiny spreading hairlines and a chip to the inner footring.

References:

Rinaldi 1989, pp.129-133 & Pl.146

Campen & Eliëns 2014, pp.55-56

Price: Sold.