Page 26 - Ming Porcelain Primer
P. 26
86 DISH The present dish is one of the extremely rare, recorded Kraak pieces
decorated with overglaze enamels, with a dominant colour scheme of
Jingdezhen porcelain, decorated bright red and green. Was it an experimental piece? Perhaps to test the
with overglaze enamels (Dutch) market? Or was it specially made for the Japanese market? Why
H 6.8 cm, Dia. 37.5 cm then, with its most attractive and pleasing lively colours and beautiful
Ming dynasty, Wanli (1573–1620) design was it not successful?
reign or later
Inv.-No. OKS 1959-56, on loan from The dish has the classic panelled schema and a rich and complex
the OKS design of auspicious plants and objects. The panels are filled with auspi-
PROVENANCE: Acquired by the OKS cious fruits, such as pomegranates, peaches and lychees, alongside tradi-
from antique dealer Morpugo, tional auspicious objects, such as books and artemisia leaves.
Amsterdam, in 1959
Publ.: Harrisson 1981, p. 30, no. 12; The centre is painted with a ‘dragon vase’: the dragon is surrounded
Harrisson 1985, p. 71, no. 71; Canepa by auspicious clouds and red lingzhi, the fungus of immortality, and the
2008, p. 43, pl. 22; Ströber 2011, p. 10, vase is filled with lotuses. The central motif is surrounded by eight ogival
pl. 2 frames filled with fine geometrical patterns and linked by ruyi heads.
This unusual piece was thought to be the only recorded Kraak piece decorated in enamels. But there is
a comparable piece, slightly smaller, but of the same colour scheme and design, on display at the Met-
ropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Inv.-No. L.2011.24.
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