Chinese Blue and White Kraak Dish, Wanli (1573-1619)

Ref: U965A

Chinese blue and white kraak dish, Wanli (1573-1619), decorated to the centre with an eight-pointed star cartouche in reserve containing a watery landscape scene with a pair of mandarin ducks perched on a rock underneath tall leaves of lotus by the water’s edge, with a further pair of the birds in flight above, against alternating cell and interlocking lattice diaper grounds, the cavetto and wide rim with eight shaped alternating panes containing fruiting sprays of peach or beribboned precious objects including scroll cases and artemisia leaves, interspersed by narrow panels with cellular and interlocking diaper grounds and tasselled pendants; the reverse rim divided into eight sections each containing a small babao within a double circle, interspersed by narrow sections with stylised ruyi-head sceptre motif.

Dimensions:

Diameter: 31.6cm. (12 1/2 in.)

Condition:

Fritting to rim, hairline with sealed incipient flake

Notes:

Native to East Asia, mandarin ducks mate for life and consequently represent marital bliss and fidelity. They are frequently depicted swimming amongst lotus, a motif which originated in the Tang dynasty and which represents a desire for sons (see Pierson, Stacey, Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics, Percival David Foundation, London 2001)