Page 59 - Kraak Porcelain, Jorge Welsh

ones have very little variation in height, between . to these six groups, which is characterised by a cavetto and
about cm. Only the very large bowls (with diameter of rim divided into four wide and narrow radiating panels.
about cm or more) may have a height of about to The wide panels are decorated with four bracket-lobed
panels outlined in blue alternately enclosing blossoming
cm. The cavetto of these bowls is invariably moulded flowers and fruiting branches or flower or peach sprays
with four bracket-lobed panels and vertical bands, and auspicious symbols, which follow the moulded
though examples with plain cavettos do occur. Larger panel decoration. These are surmounted by four
bowls, however, are moulded with five ( cm diam.) or elongated triangular or semicircular panels enclosing
six panels ( cm diam.). Sometimes the recessed base various diaper patterns or four monster-masks, or two
shows radiating ribbed marks.

Fig. a
Detail Still Life with a Pewter
Flagon and Two Ming Bowls
Jan Jansz Treck ( / - )

(inv. no. )

© The National Gallery,

London

a diaper panels alternating with monster-masks.
It has been suggested that this monster-mask with
The decorative composition of this type of bowl di ers
greatly from that of dishes, saucer dishes and plates two large, raised eyes with long lashes, a short, broad
with the exception of those with plain white cavettos, nose, no jaw and a fierce expression sketchily rendered
discussed in the previous entries. In these bowls the in a frontal view may represent a gala, the mythological
areas of the cavetto and rim are independently decorated Indian glutton used exclusively in Indian temples
with a number of di erent motifs. According to the throughout Southeast Asia. Its highly stylized features,
style of decoration they can be generally arranged in six however, also resemble the taotie masks found on a
groups. wide variety of ancient Chinese art objects. The taotie

The present bowl belongs to the most common of