JVV 0343
Delft, circa 1680
The deep dish has a narrow, flat flange and is painted in blue with a Chinoiserie landscape. In the centre of the foreground four Chinese figures are depicted: on the left a man with a fan, two conversing men are in the centre, one of them holding a fan, the other carrying something in his arms. The fourth man is standing with a parasol behind a balustrade. On the right, pavilions are visible in the background. A continuous foliate scroll is painted on the narrow rim. On the reverse there is a panelled decoration of circles and stars, with the number 4 in the foot rim.
Dimensions: diameter 39,5 cm / 15.55 in.
Explanatory note
The decoration is inspired by Chinese porcelain from the transitional period at the end of the Ming and the start of the Qing dynasty. The porcelain of the last Ming emperor Chongzhen (reigned 1628-1644), the first Qing emperor Shunzi (reigned 1644-1662) and the initial period until 1674 of his successor Kangxi (reigned 1662-1722) may have served as examples for this dish. The transition period in China lasted more than 60 years (1620-1683) and was accompanied by much unrest, conflict and war. The Ming dynasty finally fell in 1644, but it took decades before peace returned to China. For example, the porcelain kilns in Jingdezhen, the main porcelain city in China, were destroyed in 1674.
