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

Object 2011235

Dish

China

1610-1630

Height 66 mm (2.60 inch), diameter of rim 372 mm (14.65 inch), diameter of footring 190 mm (7.48 inch), weight 1.292 grams (45.57 ounce (oz.))

Dish on footring, slightly scalloped flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a flower basket on a terrace with protruding roots growing from the base of the flower basket. The flower basket is filled with a book scroll and flowering peony and peach encircled by an eight pointed scalloped medallion. On the rim and sides large panels filled with peaches and auspicious symbols alternate with narrow panels with tassels. On the reverse large panels filled with stylised pearls and dots alternate with narrow panels with stylised lingzhi.

According to Rinaldi his dish can be classified as a Border VII.2 dish. The large panels on the border are no longer filled with floral sprays or insects and 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. For the centre decoration a new motif appears: a bird on a rock near water and large flowers, usually peonies. The reverse decoration repeats that of the front. Large ogival or round panels contain fungus and dots, the narrow sections contain stylised lingzhi motifs. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105)

By placing the flower basket inside a garden fence, the decorator suggests a feeling of inner peace. The flower basket represents Lan Cai He, one of the Eight Immortals, patron Saint of gardeners and florists. The motif with the protruding roots mostly occurs in (very) large kraak plates. (Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007)

This original Chinese kraak design apparently appealed to Europeans, various imitations like Dutch (Delft) and Japanese dishes were made. Jörg shows four different dishes with this particular design; the original Chinese kraak version, the Japanese and two Dutch Delftware imitations. (Jörg 2011/1, pp. 96-103)

For identically decorated dishes, please see;

Condition: A firing flaw to the exterior wall, three chips, two frits, two hairlines and some shallow glaze rough spots to the rim.

References:

Pijl-Ketel 1982, pp. 270-283

Rinaldi 1989, Pl.96

Kassel 1990, cat. 11

Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, Serial No. 4136d, 4580, 5097a, 5097c & 5097b

Jörg 2011/1, cat.17

Price: Reserved.