Page 16 - Ming Porcelain Primer

48 DISH The dish with rounded sides and a foliate rim is painted in the centre with
the traditional motif of ducks at a lotus pond in cobalt blue. One of the
Porcelain, Zhanzghou (Swatow) ware, birds is sitting amidst lotus flowers; the other duck is approaching in flight,
decorated in underglaze blue and seemingly starting a vivid conversation with the waiting one. The centre is
overglaze enamels surrounded by a frieze painted with thinner lines of pendant jewels and
H 9.0 cm, Dia. 38.0 cm arabesques. The border is painted in iron-red and green enamels, with
Ming dynasty, c. 1600 roundels in red, and flowers and leaves in red, green and turquoise.
Inv.-No. GRV 1929-9
PROVENANCE: Donated by the heirs of The motif of ducks at a lotus pond is a well-known and popular motif
R. Verbeek, found in Indonesia before of Kraak porcelain produced for the Dutch market and made in Jingdezhen
1929 at the same time as Zhangzhou wares were made in the Fujian kilns, around
Publ.: Harrisson 1979, p. 86, no. 171 1600.
and col. pl. p. 107

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