'Kraak' Blue and White Large Porcelain Charger, 20.5", Wan Li Reign, circa 1610

A museum calibre circa 1610 blue and white Chinese 'Kraak' charger or shallow bowl of massive scale, the round cavetto molded body with slightly scalloped flat rim boldly and exquisitely painted in vibrant underglaze blue with flowering peach, peony, and scroll-filled basket with protruding roots on a fenced terrace within an eight pointed scalloped medallion with ruyi-heads separating panels of starburst-lattice and fish-roe diaper, the rim with Rinaldi 'Border VII.2' having eight radiating panels filled with peach-sprays and auspicious symbols alternating with narrow swastika and tassel panels, the reverse painted with large 'ogival' or round panels with fungus and dots alternating with narrow panels containing stylized lingzhi motifs. An exceptionally fine example with the added rarity of an intact period (likely trader's or merchant's) wax seal.

According to Hans van Baarsen of Pater Gratia Oriental Art, Groningen, The Netherlands, "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 [Daoist] Immortals, patron saint of gardeners and florists. The motif with the protruding roots mostly occurs in (very) large kraak plates."

Provenance: Previously with Michael Dunn Antiques / Works of Art, Claverack, New York, and Wiscasset, Maine, featured in his Fall 1997 exhibition catalogue on page 5 where it is described as follows:

"A particularly large late 16th century blue and white Chinese porcelain charger made during the reign of the Emperor Wan Li (1573 - 1619). The blue is very strong and pure and the white is very white and uncontaminated. These features combined with a spring-water-like glaze and careful draftsmanship give us an example of the porcelain pieces we see in early Dutch still life painting. The area inside the foot rim is unglazed and bears the red wax seal of a Dutch family from central Holland. Circa 1580. D. 20 1/2" (51 cm)."

Literature:

Rinaldi, Maura. 'Kraak Porcelain, A Moment in the History of Trade', London: Bamboo Publishing LTD, 1989, pp. 100-01, 105, 135.

Pinto de Matos, Maria Antónia. 'Chinese Export Porcelain, from the Museum of Anastácio Gonçalves, Lisbon', London: Philip Wilson Publishers LTD, 1996, pp. 122-23, 273.