Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Dishes

Object 2011423

Saucer

China

1575-1615

Height 30 mm (0.71 inch), diameter of rim 140 mm (5.51 inch), diameter of footring 74 mm (3.11 inch), weight 88 grams (3.10 ounce (oz.))

Saucer on footring, slightly scalloped flat rim. Some kiln sand adhering to the footring. Decorated in underglaze blue with a bird standing on a rock flanked by flowering plants beneath clouds in a marshy landscape, encircled by a single concentric band. On the sides and rim a moulded pattern of eight broad panels filled with peaches and camellia separated by eight narrow panels with beaded pendants. The reverse has a similar decorative scheme, the broad panels are filled with symbols or jewels and the narrow with elongated lingzhi.

According to Rinaldi this saucer can be classified as a Border V saucer. Border V is characterized by large segments separated by narrow ones. The decoration is less crowded than on other groups. Each large section usually contains a dainty floral or fruit spray or insects, and allows plenty of undecorated space around the design. In the narrow sections there are only dots or a thinly-drawn knotted ribbon. The underside, following the inside pattern, is divided into large sections with symbols or jewels and narrow segments with lingzhi. These dishes are usually of small size, between 200 mm (7.87 inch) and 220 mm (8.66 inch) in diameter. There are also saucers of about 140 mm (5.51 inch) which, rather unusually, have a flat rim. These small dishes/saucers were found in some quantities in the cargo of the wreck of the Dutch East India Company, (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC), vessel De Witte Leeuw (1613) but are not otherwise very common. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.88-89)

Similarly sized saucers (140 mm (5.51 inch)) were excavated from the wreck of the Dutch East India Company, (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) vessel the Witte Leeuw (1613), its cargo, properly excavated and documented, included many pieces of kraak porcelain in a wealth of varieties. Until around 1650 tens of thousands of pieces of kraak porcelain were imported into the Netherlands, each year, so it is no wonder that even today it can sometimes be seen in Dutch houses as part of the interior decoration, thus continuing a tradition which started in the early 17th century. Saucers like this would have been used to serve strawberries, cherries or other fruits. In some Dutch families these saucers are still being used for this purpose on special occasions. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.55)

For similarly decorated saucers, please see:

Condition: A firing flaw to the reverse. A hairline to the wall and four tiny shallow frits the rim

References:

Lunsingh Scheurleer 1981, cat. 73

Pijl-Ketel 1982, pp.81-82

Rinaldi 1989, pp.88-91

Hartog 1990, p.38, cat. 6

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.55

Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, Serial No. 4974

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