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

Object 2011911

Dish

China

1620-1640

Height 29 mm (1.14 inch), diameter of rim 208 mm (8.19 inch), diameter of footring 111 mm (4.37 inch), weight 287 grams (10.12 ounce (oz.))

Dish on footring, slightly scalloped flat rim. Kiln sand adhering to the footring. Decorated in underglaze blue with a bird perched on a rock in a marshy landscape with flowering plants, rocks and clouds encircled by an eight pointed scalloped medallion. On the sides and rim with large panels filled with peach and auspicious symbols alternating with narrow panels with dots. The scheme of the underside repeats that of the front, large ogival or round panels filled with contain dots alternating with narrow panels with lingzhi motifs.

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)

Condition: Two firing flaw on the base and some very tiny shallow glaze rough spots to the rim.

Reference:

Rinaldi 1989, Pl. 94

Price: Sold.